(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
FIFA Camp Gives Afghan Women Refugees a Chance to Shine in Football
Four years after fleeing Afghanistan, 17-year-old Elaha Safdari has returned to the game she loves. Once forced to burn her kit and erase her social media to hide her football activities under the Taliban, Safdari now trains with the Afghan Women’s Refugee team at St. George’s Park in England.
The FIFA global ID camp, held this week, is part of efforts to build a 23-player squad for international friendly tournaments. For Safdari and her teammates, the camp is about more than football — it is a celebration of resilience and hope.
“It’s emotional, full of love and joy,” Safdari said. “Every time I wear my boots on the pitch, I’m playing for all those women who can’t even go for a walk or enjoy basic human rights.”
Defender Najma Arefi, 18, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the team’s mission to represent Afghan girls and women. “We want to show the world that even if you’re closing your eyes, we’re still here. We’re not afraid,” she said.
Under the guidance of coach Pauline Hamill, the players reconnect with their passion for football, overcoming the challenges of exile, isolation, and language barriers in England. Hamill called coaching the team “an amazing experience” and said the players’ dedication is inspiring.
Unlike Afghanistan’s men’s team, the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation has banned women’s sports. This FIFA initiative provides a platform for Afghan women to play internationally while advocating for recognition and equality.
Safdari, who lives with her siblings in Doncaster, holds tightly to her goalkeeping trophy and Afghan jersey — symbols of her journey and determination. “On the pitch, I’m playing for all the women and girls told to be silent,” she said.
The camp offers hope, joy, and a pathway for Afghan women refugees to continue pursuing their dreams, showing that football can be a powerful platform for resilience and representation.
