Player Interview: Maxwell Woledzi’s Hijab Project
At just 18 years of age, Maxwell Woledzi is already simultaneously the archetypal modern-day footballer and a fine example of a player deviating from the path so many others take when entering the world of professional football. He is concerned with the issues of today's world such as gender and racial equality but undeterred by the pressures of an increasingly globalised sport, instead determined to use his platform to encourage and support those starting from a similar position.
Having joined the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana aged 14, Woledzi graduated in July 2019, signing a 4-year contract with Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland. Once in Denmark, he joined up with seven other graduates of the academy, a partnership formed when a group led by Right to Dream founder Tom Vernon acquired FC Nordsjælland in December 2015.
You could forgive a teenage footballer signing his first professional contract for allowing his mind to indulge thoughts on how to spend that first paycheque, but Woledzi already had plans. As a child growing up in a largely Islamic community in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, he had seen firsthand the challenges faced by young Muslim girls wanting to participate in sports. Inclusivity was difficult, with religious customs requiring the head to be covered but headwear designed for sporting activities very hard to come by.
Whilst many would acknowledge the unfairness of the situation, few would commit to taking the steps needed to find practical solutions. For Woledzi, it became clear that a number of opportunities were being missed through a lack of involvement in an environment where finding success was already challenging enough. There the idea was born.
A programme, in partnership with Nike, that would provide young girls in his community with free sports bras and hijabs, allowing participation in sports that would both align with tradition and give them a new level of exposure — The Hijab Project. The aim was to empower the girls to use sports to transform their lives and help with the long process of bridging the gender gap in sport, particularly in the Muslim community.
I sat down with Maxwell, whilst on lockdown, and chatted over the phone about the project, his reasons for getting involved and what it will look like in the future. He was open, mature, and honest, discussing everything from the Ghanaian women's national team to his mum's life lessons.
The aim was to share this project with a wider audience, increasing its support and encouraging similar initiatives elsewhere. The interview also gave a helpful insight into how clubs can educate and encourage players to use their influence to make positive changes in their respective communities.
F: Can you describe The Hijab Project and how you got involved with it?
M: I’m from Ghana, as you know, so I went to a school in my community there. I thought of this girl, there is a girl in my community and in the same school [I went to] who used to be talented. She’s very good at playing football and doing a lot of sports stuff but whenever it’s time for these sports activities she can’t play because as a Muslim we believe that you shouldn’t leave your hair uncovered before doing anything or going out because it’s not good for someone to see your hair uncovered. So she can’t participate in sports without covering her hair, because we know that it is going to be dangerous for her if she tries that.
So I started at the academy Right to Dream, which I’m sure you know, then with going to FC Nordsjælland I got a contract with Nike. So when I got a contract with Nike I thought of this [idea] then I contacted a marketing director [saying] that I would like to do this for my community. I feel like giving some of my [Nike] voucher to the people, buying things online with my voucher. Then I talked to Nike and we came to the conclusion that we can connect because of what I wanted to do.
I thought of this girl and I thought of what I could do to help my community and this girl came in mind. I wanted to use the profile as a Nike athlete to help my community.
I saw this woman on social media, her name is Zeinab, who produces these hijabs for boxing or something like that. Then I was like I can buy this, I can talk to Nike about this hijab thing and we can see how it goes. Together with some people and Nike, I talked to them and I figured out what to do.
So I went to the schools, to all these Islamic schools in my community to talk to them and let them understand what I want to do. I want them to understand the importance of sports because I’ve been through this before and I know how sport helped me a lot. So for the equality and for them to get the opportunities to participate in every sport that’s when I got the idea of introducing these hijabs to my community.
What was the day itself like? Did you invite different sports teams to provide them with sportswear?
Not sports teams but schools, normal schools. We have these schools that are specifically Islamic schools because there are a lot of Islamic girls and boys in those schools. Then I organised a tournament for these girls in my community, they started playing football and then some of them wanted to play other sports as well. So you can see that they were interested in it, we introduced other sports to the activities because it is for them, we want them to enjoy what they want to do with these hijabs.
Why did you want to work with girls specifically?
Like I said I thought of that girl because she’s talented and she’s not having the opportunity and she’s not participating in any sports so when I thought of her it’s like she’s wasting her talent. And it’s not her fault, it’s what she believes in. The girls are losing opportunities because of these hijabs and for us to bring equality we have to support these girls.
How easy is it for girls with the right sportswear to play sports in Ghana? Are there a lot of women’s football teams?
It’s like every country, it’s not that easy but we have football clubs with girls and we have local teams with girls as well. For me growing up whenever I saw a girl play in these school leagues [it’s because] they have to play, so they will just pick girls from the classrooms to go and play and represent the schools, it’s not what they want to do. But you also see these local teams in the Ghanaian leagues, we have a women’s league in the Ghanaian leagues as well.
The Ghanaian women’s team has not qualified for a World Cup since 2007. Do you think girls are not growing up with enough exposure to football so therefore do not grow up wanting to be footballers in the same way?
To be honest there a lot of girls who are passionate and want to play football too and I think most of the Ghanaian football players play football abroad. I don’t know how come they struggled but it’s not the same when they’re playing abroad and starting at a young age. I know that we’ve been to a lot of qualifications so it might be unlucky for them to not qualify because they did perform well I think.
So there is actually quite a good number of women playing football in Ghana?
I think so but to be honest I only know about the academies within my community. We have a women’s football club but you don’t see them a lot in every community. But these girls are not like every kid. I don’t think every girl has priorities to play football, not in my community. Sometimes they have brothers or friends so if they are going to play football they follow them. If they see that they are loving it then they will also play.
What’s next for The Hijab Project?
I want to take this project across Ghana and Africa so let’s see. I started in my community so if it’s going across Ghana we’re going to get girls wearing the hijab and playing football for the nation and also playing for their clubs whilst wearing the hijab because it will be okay for them. It also creates opportunity for these kids, right now there are a lot of talented girls out there but they have never showcased their talent so now we will see them more.
With this Hijab Project and them participating in every sporting activity, it's going to create opportunities for them to join teams and places that can sort out their lives and make their lives good. So I’m looking forward to seeing these girls making it through this project and also getting to be role models for other ones. I know we are going to find role models and I want them to talk to the upcoming ones who will see someone coming from the same situation and making it.
How big a part did your footballing education play in you wanting to do this?
I think Right to Dream and FC Nordsjælland played a big part because I started having this value of giving back since I was young. It’s something that’s in me since I was young. At Right to Dream it is a big part of our values so when I came back [home] it was not like I haven’t learned anything about it, I tried to use the values and give back, it’s one of our traits.
It also gives me more focus and more attention so I think it’s really played a big role because I’ve been learning this since I joined the academy and I realised that [giving back] is in me. They also encourage us a lot. When I started this [project] I was 17 so they helped me a lot with the organisation and everything to come out.
What did you learn from the character development coaches at Right to Dream?
We have traits that we value and we learn. We have mentors, whatever you want to say they are there for you. They have a lot of time for you and they like to understand you, you have to understand one another and know why you are here so that you learn a lot of traits that can help you in your life. It’s not enforced on you but it’s a guideline. They try to help you but it’s your decision to take it or not.
It sounds like they’re teaching you how to be a good person and not just a good footballer.
Yeah they try to create leaders and role models as well. Like you said they try to let you know that it’s not only football, that’s why we learn these three things: football, character and education. It’s not only about football.
You recently signed up to the Common Goal initiative, how did that come about?
Yeah so I joined Common Goal this month. Do you know Ramadan? Fasting period. I got a contract with Right to Dream, a scholarship. Whenever I get something, for my first year I felt like using it to help with this because it’s not only about me, with what I’ve been through I have to support this.
So when I got this contract it was during Ramadan, I thought what can I do because it is important to give to others. It is one of our pillars, the five pillars of Islam, so part of that is giving up. So during that month I’m like okay so what shall I do, what shall I do to also support others.
Then I called my mum, I discussed this with my mum, and I told her about this organisation called Common Goal but then I didn’t tell anyone [else] because I was thinking maybe it’s not allowed for academy players to join. I talked to my mum and I wanted to use 1% of my salary to give out to these world organisations so that they can support other people, people who are less fortunate. She was like yeah why not, it’s good, she thinks it’s good for me.
Do you feel a big sense of responsibility to give back?
My mum has always been telling me it’s part of us, we believe in giving back. God says if you help someone he will help you in your life, and my mum and I we are really religious. It’s something in me, I feel like doing it because sometimes you have to understand where you come from, you’ve been through a lot of things and you know that people who were also there didn’t get this opportunity. So whatever you have you can’t forget where you come from.
- For more information or to find out how to support the project message me on twitter or email me at fraser.clark@hotmail.com.
- Feel free to leave any feedback/suggestions below or on my twitter.
- Find Maxwell Woledzi on Instagram here.
- Photos by Azumi Habib — find her on Instagram here.
