![My Beautiful Sisters - Khalida Popal](https://assets.buzzmag.co.uk/uploads/2024/06/My-Beautiful-Sisters-Khalida-Popal.jpg)
You don’t need to know your Bonmati from your Beckham or your Earps from your elbow to thoroughly enjoy My Beautiful Sisters, the inspirational story of the Afghan women’s football team. Following their remarkable journey from schoolyard kickabouts to FIFA’s inexcusable decision to ban them from the 2023 World Cup, this is a sobering, nerve-shredding account of women pitting skill and ingenuity against a broken, sexist system.
Forget Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman, author and former international Khalida Popal is the superhero we should all be stanning. From singlehandedly creating a national side with zero funding or government support, to speaking out against the systematic sexual abuse of female players by male coaches, she sacrifices her safety time and time again in the dogged pursuit of justice.
Forced to flee Afghanistan for Norway after being pursued by a gunman and framed for a bombing, Popal refuses to be consigned to the benches. Instead, she takes to the field one last time to help organise the safe evacuation of her teammates after the Taliban seize back power. A jaw-dropping tale of bravery and determination, My Beautiful Sisters‘ rally cry for sisterhood is louder and more beautiful than a lioness’s roar.
My Beautiful Sisters, Khalida Popal (Two Roads)
Price: £20/£24.99 audiobook. Info: here
words RACHEL REES