“When I’m on the football field, I feel safe.”

Fatima Yousufi is the captain and goalkeeper of the Afghan Women's National Football Team. When the Taliban captured Kabul in 2021, it was no longer safe for her or her teammates. 

After a frantic international effort, Fatima and the team were offered refuge in Australia. Fatima vividly recalls the desperate and dangerous scenes at Kabul airport.

“We made our way to the airport and that was so hard to see. It was like a zombie apocalypse. Everyone was terrified and trying to escape. The sounds of guns and the screams of children [filled] my ears,” she said.

Fatima had hoped her whole family could escape to Australia. But her parents and one sibling didn’t make it onto the plane.

“I didn’t have the chance to say goodbye to my mum and dad, and the last time I saw them was at the airport. It was so sad. They got beaten by Taliban and they couldn’t continue their journey,” she said.

“Sport is great for giving people hope for the future.”

The team settled in Melbourne and was adopted by Melbourne Victory Football Club. Now the women are playing in Victoria’s State League.

“It’s been an amazing journey for us and our football platform to do more than just win games of football. We’ll continue to support them for as long as we can, to make sure we help them not just on but also off the football pitch,” said Caroline Carnegie, Managing Director of Melbourne Victory.

Refugee advocate and former Socceroo Craig Foster was instrumental in bringing the team to Australia.

“They’ve become a symbol of women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan and all around the world. They’ve also become a very important group within Australian society, and they’re helping us to reshape the narrative around refugees in Australia,” said Foster.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, met the team when he was in Australia in April.

“Refugees, when they’re given an opportunity in a country like Australia, can thrive, can blossom, and can contribute back to society, which is very important. UNHCR is very engaged in initiatives related to sport in a refugee context. Sport is great for giving people hope for the future,” said the High Commissioner. 

Fatima lives with her sister and two brothers in Melbourne. Finding safety in Australia has been bittersweet for her, as she has not seen her parents or youngest sister in nearly two years.

“It was unbelievable for me to imagine leaving [them] behind. That’s why I’m suffering a lot. I would have taken all those women and all those girls from Afghanistan, give them opportunities to play, to [get an] education, to be powerful, to always be strong,” she said.

Away from the football field, Fatima works as an IT Assistant at Hejaz Financial Services. She is also starting a sports management degree at Deakin University. 

Bibi Yousufi, Fatima’s sister, is in awe of her sibling’s strength.

“I watched [Fatima] go through everything - through good times, bad times and normal,” said Bibi. “But she has one thing that I don’t see in everyone, and it is courage… She doesn’t really fear anything. She just speaks her mind.”

Through their hardship, the refugee team has formed an unbreakable bond. Fatima speaks about the power of sport to heal, unite and inspire hope.

“In football, you’re playing in a team, you have a second family. My sadness is ours. They’re my teammates. They’re covering me, I’m covering them. One for all and all for one. That’s our team,” said Fatima with pride.

“I’m happy I have a second chance to be alive, to go for my education, to do my sport, and to never give up on anything. And keep fighting.”

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