It is a different team we meet when we enter the Beirut football academy's football facility.

Girls from 13 to 18 years old train in the same team, which is necessary because too few girls apply for football in Lebanon, according to coach Johnny Ghossain.

- Five years difference is a bit difficult when you train them.

It is not so professional to have such large age differences.

But we do not have enough girls.

Girls are not encouraged to play football.

People consider football to be a killer sport.

The players are questioned

Tala Sleit, who is usually the team captain for the team, but who is currently suffering from a cruciate ligament injury, is one of those who break the norms.

- People question whether a girl can play football or not because girls "should" be feminine.

Even her parents initially found it difficult to accept her interest in football.

They thought it was inappropriate for a girl to risk injuring herself or getting ugly scars on her legs.

- But now they have got used to it.

They have accepted that I love this.

They are a little hesitant, but only because they are worried about me.

They are a great support for me and they stand by my side, she says.

The challenges for female soccer players in Lebanon are many.

With only about 90 players in the academy, divided into four women's teams, everyone is forced to play in the same division: division one.

There are simply not enough girls playing to get more divisions together.

Difficult choice ahead

At the same time, a deep economic crisis is taking place in Lebanon, where the currency has lost almost all of its value.

Prices are raised on basically all goods and many young people are trying to leave the country.

For Tala, the decision to leave or stay is not entirely obvious.

- It's like something pulls me in two directions at the same time.

I have entered a university in Australia, but the problem is that despite all the problems in Lebanon, I have everything I want here.

I have my family and my friends.

I can not see myself playing football with another team in Australia.

It feels like this is where my heart is.

Photo: Pablo Torres