GARISSA, Kenya, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Every time Janay Issack Adhan blows her whistle to begin a training session, she knows she is inspiring hundreds of young Somali refugees in northeastern Kenya.
A 41-year-old mother of 12 and a Somali refugee herself, Adhan lives in Dagahaley Refugee Camp, one of the camps that make up the sprawling Dadaab refugee complex in Garissa County.
By stepping into the world of football, Adhan has faced harsh criticism and resistance from some members of her community, who hold traditional views about women's participation in sports.
"I became a football coach five years ago when I realized that many young people in the refugee camp had no one to guide them. Many had fallen into drug and substance abuse, joined criminal gangs, or died while attempting to reach Europe," Adhan said during a recent interview.
Adhan said some community members questioned her commitment to football, expressing concerns based on their personal beliefs and traditional social expectations regarding women's roles.
On several occasions, some critics approached her family, including her elderly mother and husband, hoping they would persuade her to stop coaching, arguing that football is not an appropriate sport for women.
But Adhan remained focused on her mission of using sports to keep young people engaged and away from crime and substance abuse.
"I have no time to listen to negative criticism. My goal is to ensure young people have something meaningful to engage in until they can make informed decisions about their future," Adhan said.
After every tournament, she takes time to counsel her players, encouraging them to focus on building a better future rather than slipping into destructive habits.
Adhan said refugees in the camp face enormous hardships that neither the Kenyan government nor humanitarian agencies are fully able to address. These challenges have driven some young people to undertake dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities, with some losing their lives along the way.
Having arrived in Kenya in 1991, shortly after the Dadaab refugee complex was established, Adhan has witnessed these struggles firsthand.
She said life for refugees has become even more difficult in recent years, as international funding cuts have reduced food rations and strained other essential services.
"The number of young people has increased significantly, yet many remain unemployed, while funding cuts have forced humanitarian agencies to reduce food rations and other essential services, including access to water," Adhan said.
Despite these hardships, local youth continue to come together to form football teams, although they struggle to obtain basic equipment such as footballs and uniforms.
To nurture this talent, Adhan called on donors and organizations to support youth empowerment programs and invest in football pitches and other sports infrastructure across the Dadaab refugee complex.
Her commitment has earned the admiration and trust of many young players.
Liban Abdikadir, captain of Walalah FC, said the team has great confidence in Adhan, noting that she has guided them to at least three tournament titles since becoming coach.
He said this was a remarkable achievement for a mother of 12 who prepares her children for the day, then heads to the pitch every Friday and Saturday to train the team.
"Unlike many other teams in the refugee camp, Janay has led our team to Garissa to play a friendly match," Abdikadir told Xinhua.
Another player, Mohamed Ahmed, said Adhan regularly counsels team members against drug and substance abuse, an effort that has helped many young people avoid addiction.
Ahmed added that Adhan has been instrumental in attracting more youth to football by encouraging them and even using her own money to buy footballs and uniforms. ■
