Afghan refugees have inflicted a crushing defeat on a Parliamentary team at a football match in Dulwich.
The Afghanistan Development Squad thrashed the Women’s Parliamentary Team at Dulwich Hamlet’s home ground on Tuesday (29 March).
The team of Afghan girls and women played against a cross-party group of MPs including Tracey Crouch, Kim Leadbeater and Alison McGovern, winning four thrilling games in total.
The goal tally at Champion Hill reached double figures in one match, with the Afghans putting on a sterling display of footie.
The Afghan Development Team fled the Taliban last year on a flight sponsored by the reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
They faced persecution and death for playing football as women after the Taliban took over in September, arriving safely in the UK in November.
“The team is a long way from home, but the cheering atmosphere today was what they needed,” said Khalida Popal, the squad’s director.
“After a tumultuous journey to reach safety, there are still many obstacles they face. Football has a powerful way of bringing people together and is a crucial part of the team rebuilding their lives in the UK.”
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Tracey Crouch, captain of the losing Parliamentary squad, added: “We knew we were playing against pros, and we were up for the challenge. We got to know the Afghan team on the pitch, and they are remarkable players. It’s an absolute pleasure to have them settled in the UK and we can’t wait to watch them grow as a team.”
The match, kickstarted by Amnesty, aimed to celebrate the contribution refugees can make to football and highlight women’s rights issues in Afghanistan.
Girls in Afghanistan were recently banned from going to secondary school, drawing international condemnation.
It is part of Football Welcomes, an Amnesty International UK initiative to welcome refugees and people seeking asylum into UK communities through football.
“This match goes to the very heart of what Football Welcomes is all about – breaking down barriers and bringing people together from different walks of life,” said Naomi Westland, head of the Amnesty initiative.
This year’s campaign – which is in its fifth year – comes during the biggest refugee crisis Europe has seen since the Second World War.
“The refugee crisis in Ukraine shines a light on the importance of welcoming refugees wherever they’re from, whether it’s Ukraine, Afghanistan, Eritrea or elsewhere,” said Naomi.
“We hope as many football teams as possible get involved this year to welcome refugees and show just how important they are to our communities.”
