Roya Noorzai

The journey

Roya Noorzai represents the first generation of female players from Afghanistan to make it to the Goaliano academy, after the platform's talent-spotting system picked up on her in a local league near Mazar-i-Sharif — the start of a path that will mature with time towards the first team.

The dream

To become the captain of her national team one day

Character

She has a compact, agile build and short dark hair, and one of her trademarks is pulling her socks up before every match.

• Energetic and quick to recover
• brave in attack
• hard-working defensively
• versatile

Favourites

Food

Kabuli pulao

Hobby

Keeping pets

Music

Afghan rubab music

From the first intake at the Goaliano academy.