NZ should offer support for Afghanistan’s sportswomen

Recently the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan, wreaking havoc over the country.

Formed in 1994, the Taliban were made up of former Afghan resistance fighters, known collectively as mujahedeen, who fought the invading Soviet forces in the 1980s.

Afghanistan’s new rulers, who banned women from playing all sport during their first rule in the 1990s, have indicated that women and girls will face restrictions in playing sport. 

This is devastating for sports women all over the country.

Looking for a solution, members of Afghanistan’s national women’s football team have fled across the border into Pakistan, a month after the Taliban swept back into power, officials say.

In total, more than 75 people crossed the northern border before travelling south to the city of Lahore where they were greeted with flower garlands. “We welcome Afghanistan Women football team they arrived at Torkham Border from Afghanistan.
The players were in possession of valid Afghanistan Passport, Pakistan visa and were received by Nouman Nadeem of PFF (Pakistan Football Federation),” Chaudhry tweeted on Wednesday, providing no further details.The girls who played for the under-14, under-16 and under-18 teams crossed the land border dressed in burqas, Haider said, before they later changed into headscarves. 

Can you imagine what it would be like if this same scenario happened in NZ?

Girls wouldn’t be able to play any sport! I don’t think I would be able to survive! This rule isn’t fair, because we should have all the same rights as boys. In some cases, we are much better than them at some sports.

In response, I think New Zealand should offer its safety for any sports women in Afghanistan and let them stay here and keep playing sport until the threat dies down. 

By Isla Martin