On a weekend afternoon, while most families wind down, a group of Muslim women lace up, pin their hijabs, and take to the netball court. They call themselves Ignite Rebelz and at an average age of 40, they’re proving that passion, faith and grit don’t retire.
Finding “Me Time” Again
For Norsyda Abdul Rahman, a finance manager turning 43, netball wasn’t just a comeback. It was a reawakening.
“After COVID-19, I signed my daughters up for a netball club. Watching them play stirred something in me that I didn’t even realise had been sleeping for 20 years,” she recalled. “The first game back, my knees reminded me of the time away. But I also remembered how alive this sport made me feel.”
Netball has become her sanctuary. “It’s my me time. Training, competing, being with the team, I look forward to it every week.”
Healing From Injury Together
Nur Hafizah Abu Sujad, also 43, knows the cost of chasing that passion. A physiotherapist by profession, she suffered an ACL injury that kept her off the court for a year.
“It’s not a minor thing. The rehab is long, and mentally, you’re tortured. Before the injury you’re always with your team, then suddenly you’re suffering alone,” she said.
Stepping back into competition was daunting. But joining Ignite Rebelz changed the equation. “This team is different. We’re very close-knit. We share our struggles as athletes, but also as mothers and women of faith. It makes you feel like you’re never alone in the journey.”
Netball, But Deeper
For the Rebelz, the scoreboard isn’t the only thing that matters.
“Being in a team and fighting to win together gives me confidence in myself,” said Nursyahidah Mohamad Jamal. “Knowing I have like-minded ladies beside me… that’s powerful.”
It’s a sisterhood built on honesty and care. They celebrate victories, shoulder defeats, and centre every match in faith. “If you were there, you’d see us lining up to pray before the game,” Norsyda shared. “Faith is first. Everything else comes second.”
Redefining the Tudung Narrative
Beyond the court, the Rebelz are reshaping perceptions of Muslim women in sport.
“To me, Rebelz represent hope,” said Nursyahidah. “Most times when people see women in tudung, they think of makciks. But we can be graceful and powerful with the tudung on. It’s just a piece of cloth. What inspires people is who you are as a person.”
For Hafizah, the team gave her confidence to embrace both her faith and her sport fully. “Joining Rebelz allows me to practise my faith more openly while still competing.”
Age Is No Barrier
The average age of the team hovers around 40. But to them, age is fuel, not limitation.
“Sports is not just for the young,” Nursyahidah said. “We can break stereotypes. Old ladies can still play netball and here we are.”
Norsyda added: “Even if you’re working, married or studying, you can still do anything if you put your heart into it. Instead of just retiring to social games, we wanted to do more.”
A Safe Space, A Strong Statement
In the end, Ignite Rebelz is about carving space for women to thrive.
“This is my safe space,” said Norsyda. “Where I look forward to training, winning or losing together, side by side with my teammates.”
And while competition drives them, their legacy runs deeper: a living statement that women of faith, women in hijabs, women past their 30s and 40s can still claim their place on the court.
Because for Ignite Rebelz, netball is more than sport. It’s resilience. It’s representation. And most of all, it’s sisterhood.
