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World Football: Standing up to the Taliban

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Standing up to the Taliban

24/03/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - World Football, Standing up to the Taliban

Former Afghanistan women's team captain revisits her upbringing under Taliban rule.

Former Afghanistan women's team captain Khalida Popal tells World Football about growing up under Taliban rule where women were banned from playing any form of sport.

Khalida Popal, standing up to the Taliban

Former Afghanistan women's team captain Khalida Popal grew up in a nation under Taliban rule where women were banned from playing any form of sport. She learned to play silently with friends to avoid detection, played on pitches once used for public executions and suffered physical and verbal abuse. Khalida fled her country, years later, and with her playing career now over she looks back on her life and tells us of her dream to one day return home as head of their FA. 

Bon soire Napoleon, the life of Raymond Kopa

Raymond Kopa died earlier this month at the age of 85. He was the first French player to win the Ballon D'or and finished in the top three on a total of four occasions.

He was the first player to boast a commercial interest, (his own sportswear brand), something no player would be without today. He was also one of the founding fathers of the first players union. 

Nicknamed 'The Little Napoleon', he was part of the Real Madrid side that dominated the 50s, he also played for Stade de Reims in the first ever European Cup final.

We hear Kopa's only BBC World Service interview and Reims Sporting Director Alexandre Barbier pays tribute.

Alessandro Costacurta interview 

The former Italy and AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta looks back on his time playing alongside Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi.

Arguably the most dominant defence of all time, he says the team 'choked' their opponents into submission and blames Milan's recent problems on the absence of a 'teacher' like Baresi or Maldini.

He also claims Milan's owner is 'too old' to take the team back to the top and admits Inter Milan are the more likely of the two teams to challenge for Serie A titles in the near future.

A night on the tiles with Kosovo

James Montague reports from Kosovo where the national team coach Albert Bunjaki staged a flash mob at a classical music concert to stir up national pride amongst his players.

Kosovo are hoping to record their first ever competitive win when they face Iceland this weekend.

We also hear from Manchester City and Kosovo player Bersant Celina who recently jumped into the crowd to tear down a 'Kosovo is Serbia' banner at an FC Twente match (he's on loan there).

The tragedy of Justin Fashanu

Leroy Rosenior played with Justin Fashanu at West Ham, he looks back on their time at the club and examines how close (or far away) football is from convincing gay players they are safe to come out whilst continuing their careers.

He also tells us how Fashanu's suicide changed his life.

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