Giving children without parental care in Azerbaijan a future through football

"Football became my family – when you grow up in an orphanage, even dreaming can feel like a luxury."

When Azerbaijan international Fidan Jafarova looks back on her childhood, football is not simply a sport – it is the reason she learned to dream.

Today, she plays professionally for Hakkarigücü Spor in Türkiye and her journey has become a powerful source of inspiration for children participating in an inclusive football project jointly implemented by AFFA and Azerbaijan's Social Services Agency.

Fidan Jafarova in training

'Football gave me a goal'

At the age of nine, Jafarova was placed in the Sheki Mixed-Type Children's Home. Shortly after arriving at the orphanage, she joined training sessions with local girls' club, Marhal, which was operating in Sheki with the support of the AFFA. Despite some early challenges, football became her escape.

"There were days when I cried because I had to go to training," Jafarova recalls. "But my friend [and Azerbaijan youth international], Nahida Mammadova, always motivated me. My coaches made me fall in love with football – it became my path in life."

That path developed quickly. At the age of 11, she earned her first call-up to Azerbaijan's Under-15 national team and she subsequently progressed through every youth age group before reaching the senior national side.

"Joining the Under-15 team changed everything," she says. "I started looking at football differently. Before that, I never thought much about the future. When you grow up in an orphanage, you focus on getting through today because you never know what tomorrow will bring."

"Football gave me a goal. Today, football is my family, my friends and my support system. It made me a confident person. I want my story to inspire children who are fighting their own battles and dreaming, just as I once did."

Fidan Jafarova (top rown, third left) in her youth team

Creating opportunities through football

Launched in August 2024, the AFFA initiative currently operates in six children's homes across Baku, Sheki, Ganja and Lankaran. Certified coaches deliver football sessions twice a week, providing both boys and girls with regular access to sport, education and social development opportunities.

Throughout the year, the most talented participants are given opportunities to continue their development with local football clubs. The programme also organises 'Friendship Cup' mini-football tournaments, helping children build confidence, teamwork and friendships through the game.

"The project uses the social power of football to create new opportunities for children deprived of parental care," explains AFFA Head of Social and Environmental Division, Kifayat Mustafayeva.

"The initiative is open to both boys and girls, and AFFA provides all participants with sports equipment. Our main goal is to support children's physical and psychological development, strengthen team spirit, improve social skills and contribute to their integration into society.

"Through football, children learn much more than technical skills. They develop leadership qualities, communication abilities and healthy lifestyle habits that can benefit them throughout their lives."

The programme is also producing tangible results for children who want to continue in football. Several participants have joined training sessions with local clubs and girls' football academies, while one participant, Alina Jafarli, represented Shafa during the most recent season of the Azerbaijan Women's League. A further 13 girls are currently training with youth teams at Shafa, Marhal, Neftchi and Araz-Nakhchivan.

A role model for the next generation

Alongside ongoing cooperation with UEFA on grassroots development and social responsibility, the project forms part of AFFA's wider commitment to using the game to reach young people who may otherwise have limited access to organised sport.

For many of the children involved, Jafarova's journey demonstrates what is possible when talent is matched with opportunity and support.

"Fidan Jafarova's story serves as a powerful source of inspiration," says Mustafayeva. "Her journey to becoming a professional footballer shows that, with the right support, consistent training and social initiatives, children can achieve significant success."

"Her experience provides a real-life example that encourages participants to believe in their own potential. It has been particularly important in increasing girls' interest in football and helping them see a pathway into the game."

For Jafarova, the impact is deeply personal.

"Never lose hope," Jafarova says. "Football opens many doors. People may tell you that football is not for girls, but every successful story creates opportunities for hundreds of others."