Venezuela is not very famous for its football, but a group of young female football players have made this sports popular in their country. CGTN's Stephen Gibbs reports.

Jordan 2016. And a group of young Venezuelan women was proving everyone wrong. In the midst of an economic crisis back home, and hailing from a non-footballing nation, they had made it to the semi-finals of the FIFA under 17's World Cup. The nation and its fans were in awe of Deyna Castellanos. From nowhere, she was showing that she is one of the best female players in the world. A documentary about the team was released this year in Venezuela. Titled They Call Us Warriors. It followed the players as they prepared for the competition - and revealed the tough conditions these superstars came from.

DANIUSKA RODRIGUEZ VENEZUELA 2016 U17 NATIONAL TEAM "I would say my family is one of the reasons why I still play. That's my inspiration to give my best."

Edwin Corona and Jennifer Socorro were co-directors of the film. Jennifer is herself a footballer.

JENNIFER SOCORRO DIRECTOR, NOS LLAMAN GUERRERAS "When I was little, my mum didn't want me to play. Because all the things you hear like 'What are you going to do? You are a girl. You can't make a life out of this. Girls don't play soccer. That's for men.' But now, the little girls, they have idols to admire. And for us, it was like a huge surprise to hear girls say Deyna is like my idol. I want to be like her. There are people that have tattoos in their bodies of Deyna, of Sandra, of Veronica you know."

Imagine her satisfaction when the film won a series of international awards.

STEPHEN GIBBS CARACAS "The success of the women's team was an inspiration here in Venezuela, where despite all the problems this country faces, league matches are still regularly played."

There are 29 professional female teams that compete in this country's premier league. And no one here forgets that U-17 team of 2016.

YOLEIDYS LIZCANO CAPTAIN, ESTUDIANTES DE CARACAS FOOTBALL CLUB "It gave me goose-pimples. Looking at them all and seeing the situation in which they lived and how they managed to get where they did, struggling every day, training day and night those young women gave it everything. It makes me proud to be here."

Proud to be Venezuelan. You don't hear that enough these days. Stephen Gibbs, CGTN, CARACAS.