It concerns a group of 35 football players between the ages of 13 and 19 and their families.
The offer from the British comes just in time: tomorrow the visa of the pledge team with which they could stay in Pakistan expires. The girls had to return to Afghanistan if another country refused to take them in.
Forbidden to exercise
Since the Taliban took power, women in Afghanistan have been banned from exercising. The national women’s football team of Afghanistan therefore fled to Australia earlier and the female juniors have been taken care of in Portugal. Only for the pledge team no solution had yet been found. Until today.
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The British authorities are still busy getting the paperwork done, writes the BBC. “We look forward to welcoming the Afghan Women’s Development Team soon,” said a British government spokesman.
Life-saving decision
The soccer girls have been on their way for some time now. Until now, no other country was willing to accommodate the Afghan talents. “This is fantastic news. We thank Prime Minister Boris Johnsen and Home Secretary Priti Patel for this important decision,” said Siu-Anne Marie Gill, director of the British philanthropic organization Rokit Foundation.
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She speaks of a life-saving decision: “70 percent of football girls in Afghanistan had already received death threats.”
English clubs want to help
The Rokit Foundation plays an important role in arranging and financing the flight of the football players. The pledge team was supposed to flee to Qatar with their families and coaches at the end of August with the help of the organization, but that trip was cut short due to an attack at Kabul airport. Later they were taken to Pakistan by bus.
Several English football clubs, including Leeds United and Chelsea, have said they want to help the girls.
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