How Afghanistan women’s football teammade it to Australia to play a league game
As the war in Afghanistan ebbs and begins to dry up in the years ahead, some of those who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan are making the long, often dangerous journey home to their families and communities, while others are hoping to come back to a country which is at last free of the Taliban’s grip.
Among them is Shahla Dahar-e-Khalidi, who was a player for the Afghanistan women’s football team that played in the Olympic qualifying group for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and also went to the Asian Cup in 2007.
As the war in Afghanistan ebbs and begins to dry up in the years ahead, some of those who fought the Taliban in Afghanistan are making the long, often dangerous journey home to their families and communities, while others are hoping to come back to a country which is at last free of the Taliban’s grip.
Among them is Shahla Dahar-e-Khalidi, who was a player for the Afghanistan women’s football team that played in the Olympic qualifying group for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and also went to the Asian Cup in 2007.
She is now back in her home country of Pakistan, but the team has set out to play a league game against her in order to raise money for breast cancer research.
Shahla Dahar-e-Khalidi is now back in her home country of Pakistan, but the team has set out to play a league game against her in order to raise money for breast cancer research.
“When I play football I hope the crowd will cheer with all their hearts and my team mates will always come back with good results because no matter what their position in the world is they always want to help anyone who needs help.
“Every time I hear the crowd cheering, it reminds me so much of when my brother used to play football here in Afghanistan. He passed away last year in September and I’m so thankful to be able to watch him play on TV, because I used to watch football matches on TV with him and the crowd would always shout in support of my brother,” she said.
“I am so happy that my son, Farzana, is going to be playing with them in this tournament,” she said.
The team is made up of 23 women including