Afghanistan development squad face women MPs in Amnesty International initiative

Feminine footballers who fled Afghanistan final 12 months performed towards a ladies’s group of MPs in London on Monday as a part of an Amnesty Worldwide initiative.

The occasion noticed the Afghanistan improvement squad, who arrived in the UK final November after fleeing their homeland following the Taliban’s return to energy, beat the parliamentarians throughout 4 matches at Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill.

Tracey Crouch, Kim Leadbeater and Alison McGovern had been amongst these within the cross-party group of MPs collaborating.

The matches, celebrating the contribution refugees make to the sport and highlighting ladies’s rights points in Afghanistan, kickstarted Amnesty Worldwide UK’s Soccer Welcomes initiative, which is in its fifth 12 months and runs all through April.

Khalida Popal, the Afghanistan squad’s group director, stated in an announcement from Amnesty Worldwide UK: “The group is a good distance from dwelling, however the cheering environment was what they wanted. The gamers confirmed off their abilities and performed passionately.

“After a tumultuous journey to succeed in security, there are nonetheless many obstacles they face. Soccer has a strong means of bringing folks collectively and is a vital a part of the group rebuilding their lives within the UK.”

Crouch stated: “We knew we had been taking part in towards professionals, and we had been up for the problem. We obtained to know the Afghan group on the pitch, and they’re outstanding gamers. It’s an absolute pleasure to have them settled within the UK and we are able to’t wait to look at them develop as a group.”

Naomi Westland, Amnesty Worldwide UK’s head of Soccer Welcomes, stated: “This match goes to the very coronary heart of what Soccer Welcomes is all about – breaking down limitations and bringing folks collectively from totally different walks of life.

“The refugee disaster in Ukraine shines a lightweight on the significance of welcoming refugees wherever they’re from, whether or not it’s Ukraine, Afghanistan, Eritrea or elsewhere.

“We hope as many soccer groups as potential become involved this 12 months to welcome refugees and present simply how essential they’re to our communities.”