Rana (19) leads the girls' team at Kicken ohne Grenzen in Graz together with two others. She plays football for LUV Graz in the Second Bundesliga. She works at the airport and would like to study at university one day. Rana describes herself as confident, spontaneous and attentive.

Place of birth
Graz

Education/profession
→ Airport ground staff, Graz Airport

How would I describe myself? I could write a novel about that. I am a mixture of shy and not shy. I am introverted and self-conscious. I am cheerful and like to see the positive side of things. No matter what happens, I think to myself: it was meant to be.

     In the summer of 2024, my friend Alaha took me to Vienna for an introductory day at Kicken ohne Grenzen. I've been involved for a year now. I had the best experiences with Kicken ohne Grenzen in Melk and Cologne. In Melk, I attended the Youth Leader Academy. It was really fun. We got on very well. I hope the memories will last forever. In Cologne, I attended the »Switch the Pitch« workshop. It was about inclusion, diversity and anti-racism in football. The group was great and I met new people.

     Since autumn 2024, I have been co-managing the first Graz girls' team of Kicken ohne Grenzen together with two others. Melina asked me and Alaha if we would like to do it.

»It was about inclusion, diversity and anti-racism in football.«

We both play football and I trained as a FIT instructor at school. We thought it was a cool idea. The team is still small. The girls are between ten and 14 years old. It's fun working with children. They can brighten up your day. It's important to me that everyone has fun at training and goes home happy.

     I've been playing football for a long time; my dad is a coach. But I never dared to join a club with boys. I didn't sign up until I was 16. I've been playing for LUV Graz in the Second Bundesliga and the Oberliga for almost four years now.

     What excites me about football is the emotions. I recently had a bad day, then I went to training, and after ten minutes my emotions had changed. I had a lot of energy and was happy. I realised what football can give you. Kicken ohne Grenzen is a great organisation. Refugees are not looked down on here. You can tell that the people in the club are wholeheartedly committed. I wish them all the best.

»I have checked what football can give you.«

I grew up in Austria, my parents are from Egypt. Unfortunately, I have experienced racism – mostly when I was younger. It's really sick. How can you criticise someone because of their background? Football has really helped me to build my self-confidence.

     In 2024, I graduated from a sports grammar school. I recently started working at the airport at check-in. It's really cool. You get to meet new people. I went to the recruitment day with a friend. I did the interview just for fun. And then I got the job.

     I think I want to study at some point, but I don't know what yet. I have so many interests. Because I enjoy working with children, I've thought about becoming a teacher. But I'm afraid to take that step and then realise that maybe it's not what I want after all.

     I'm very spontaneous. You never know what's going to happen. Life is a circus. Everything changes so quickly. I hope I don't lose my way in life. 

»How can you criticise someone because of their background?«

Fotos: Karo Pernegger
Interviews: Birgit Riezinger

Diese Geschichten wurden im Rahmen des 10-jährigen Jubiläums von Breaking Grounds protokolliert.