MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Female football referees are being trained for the first time in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province, an official said on Tuesday.

Afghanistan Football Federation spokesperson Ali Kazimi told Pajhwok Afghan News a six-day training workshop started for 29 women referees.  
He said Balkh’s women’s football squad would be selected after the training course, whose participants were selected by the provincial chapter of the federation and the education department.
On the conclusion of the training workshop, participants would be examined and four of them would be awarded referee certificates.
Maryam Syedzada, the trainer, said the selected referees would watch matches among football teams in the province.
Balkh’s Football Federation Director Haji Ishaq said the referees would pick the provincial soccer team at the end of the workshop.
One participant Zuhra Hasanzada, who was pleased with the workshop, said: “It is an honour for me being an Afghan girl and training a football referee.”
hs/mud