Shabnam Mobarez (Pashto: شبنم مبارز; born 27 August 1995)[1] is an Afghan football player.[2] As of 2016[update], she is captain of the Afghanistan women's national football team.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Shabnam Mobarez | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Kabul, Afghanistan | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Aalborg BK | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Aalborg BK | |||
| International career | |||
| 2014– | Afghanistan | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, to an ethnic Pashtun family, originally from Kapisa, Mobarez emigrated to Denmark with her family in 2002–2003 due to the War in Afghanistan (2001–present).[1] She began playing football with boys in the street without her parents knowing and was later invited to join a professional club, which she did with her parents' support.[1] She played for the Danish City Club.
Playing career
Club
Aalborg
Mobarez plays for Danish club, Aalborg BK.[2]
International
Mobarez declined an offer to play for the Denmark women's national football team and instead chose to represent Afghanistan.[1] Of the choice, she said, "We are trying to bring something positive to the country. These women are so brave they inspire me to do better and, because I live in a safe country, to work harder for them."[2] She started playing for Afghanistan in 2014[1] and has captained the team since 2016.[2] After starting with the national team as a striker, Mobarez switched to the midfielder position.[1]
In March 2018, Mobarez was part of a group of players from 20 different countries who played in a match in the Dead Sea region of Jordan and set a new world record for the lowest altitude match ever played.[3]
After the 2021 Taliban offensive, Mobarez was one of a number of Afghan women's footballers who were evacuated from Afghanistan to Australia.[4]
Other work
Mobarez coaches women's teams at a refugee camp in Denmark.[2]