⚽ Kuro w Karak Episode 1
📍Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
📅 April 2, 2026
Episode 1: From Pitch to Panel with Bacary Sagna and Dounia Tarken
Kura w Karak is a filmed conversation series exploring football, culture, and storytelling over karak. Designed to bring honest, unfiltered discussions from the pitch to the panel, it spotlights the people behind the game. Episode 1 launched the series with a live discussion at our Hub in Alserkal Avenue, bringing together players, coaches, and the community.
An Intimate Live Football Experience
Hosted at the Banaat FC Hub, the series is set in a relaxed, majlis-style environment that encourages open conversation. Each episode begins with a spotlight on a women’s player, followed by a wider discussion with a recognised football figure.
The format blends panel discussion with audience Q&A, creating an informal yet engaging space for genuine dialogue. The session is opened by Budreya, Banaat FC Founder and CEO, setting the tone for an evening centred on connection and community.
The Speakers
The inaugural episode of Kura w Karak brought together an exceptional group of voices from across football, each offering unique perspectives shaped by different levels of the game.
Bacary Sagna, Head Coach of Banaat FC and former professional player for Arsenal, Manchester City, and France, brought elite-level experience and leadership insight.
Dounia Tarken, former Banaat FC captain and Morocco Women’s National Team player, shared her journey through the evolving women’s game.
The discussion was led by Ramy Camel-Toueg, a sports marketing leader at Adidas, whose thoughtful approach guided an engaging and reflective conversation.
Key Discussion Themes
Throughout the conversation, several powerful themes emerged:
The growth of women’s football
Dounia reflected on the evolution of the women’s game in the region—from informal formats to structured leagues and academies. She highlighted how increased investment and organisation are creating real pathways for young players today.
Changing perceptions of women as athletes
The discussion emphasised recognising women as serious athletes. Both speakers reinforced that commitment, professionalism, and ambition in the women’s game match those of men’s football. Bacary spoke about the recurring question he is often asked — “why women’s football?” — responding simply, “why not?”.
For him, the focus is on ability, dedication, and mentality, rather than gendered assumptions about the game.
The discussion also touched on the nuances of coaching women’s teams compared to men’s. Bacary noted that while there are differences in environment and dynamics that should be acknowledged, they should never be used as limitations or excuses.
Elite-level experience and transition
Both guests shared insights from top-level football, highlighting the discipline, mindset, and consistency required to perform at the highest level. Their experiences reflected a shared understanding of professionalism across both men’s and women’s football.
There was also a clear sense of optimism and ambition directed towards the Banaat FC first team players in the audience, with conversations naturally extending toward aspirations such as continental competition, qualification pathways, and higher-level international opportunities.
Leadership, resilience and mindset
The conversation moved to explore leadership and resilience through deeply personal reflections from both guests, shaped by years of experience at different levels of the game.
Bacary Sagna reflected on his transition from player to coach as a journey shaped by constant adaptation. From starting as a striker to becoming a right-back, he emphasised the importance of embracing change and earning every minute on the pitch, describing football as a test of discipline, patience, and mentality.
He highlighted the influence of managers such as Arsène Wenger, Pep Guardiola, and Manuel Pellegrini in shaping his approach, viewing coaching as a continuation of learning. He also recalled his early academy days, where strict discipline and structure helped instill the core values that guide him today: humility, discipline, and humanity.
Dounia Tarken shared her perspective on resilience in the women’s game, highlighting the mental strength needed to stay consistent through challenges, support teammates, and remain composed under pressure. She cited inspirations like Marta Vieira da Silva and the influence of her father in shaping her journey. Beyond playing, she also emphasised her role at Banaat FC in supporting and mentoring the next generation of players.
Together, their perspectives reinforced that leadership in football is built through lived experience—shaped by discipline, adaptability, and the responsibility to uplift others both on and off the pitch.
Football culture across regions
The discussion explored differences in football culture across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and how environment and infrastructure shape development.
Dounia highlighted the rapid growth of women’s football in Morocco and Africa, while Bacary reflected on the intensity of the European game and the rise of women’s football globally. Together, they noted growing ambitions across the region, reflected in competitions like the Asian Cup and Banaat FC’s progression to the UAE Women’s Cup final.
Q&A and audience moments
The session concluded with a live Q&A, creating an interactive exchange between speakers and the audience. A standout moment came from a nine-year-old Banaat FC academy player, who asked Bacary Sagna what makes a great player. He emphasised that success comes from consistency, discipline, and hard work—not just natural talent.
Bacary also reflected on earning respect throughout his career, sharing early memories of starting football at a young age, overcoming challenges, and building confidence through persistence and performance.
A closing contribution came from UAE national team player Hareb Abdullah, who shared a brief but meaningful message encouraging greater support for women’s football and the importance of creating opportunities for young girls to pursue the game. His presence also carried added significance given his wider support for the growth of the women’s game and continued advocacy for its development in the region.
The event closed on a note of optimism and momentum, reflecting both the energy in the room and the broader direction of the game. The first live episode of Kura w Karak set the tone for what the series aims to become: a space for honest conversation, shared experience, and the stories behind football.
Looking ahead
Kura w Karak was created to open up football conversations in a more human, relatable way—bridging performance, culture, and storytelling in an authentic setting. Episode 1 set the tone: honest voices, meaningful discussion, and a shared love for the game, brought to life through real experiences from across the football ecosystem.
This is only the beginning. As the series continues, it will build a consistent space for dialogue, connection, and the stories that shape football on and off the pitch.
