Zubair Qureshi
The Spanish Football Academy in collaboration with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), organized a friendly football match between the Afghan women refugees and the Pakistani women’s teams.
The friendly match was played in connection with the International Women’s Day with the theme ‘invest in women.’
The event was supported by the Barça Foundation and acknowledged as well as celebrated resilience and strength of all women and girls, including refugees, and called for providing an inclusive platform to both the Afghan and the Pakistani players to come together in the spirit of sportsmanship.
The occasion marked the first opportunity for the Afghan team to play as a team together since they arrived in Pakistan in search of safety some three years ago.
Thanks to the generous support from the Spanish Football Academy, they have resumed training three days a week, improving their fitness and honing their skills. With encouragement from the Pakistan team, the Afghan women dug deep and did not quit, with players sharing their strength as well as passion for the game, “magic happens when you don’t give up, even though you want to.”
“Sports have the power to transcend borders and cultures, offering hope and empowerment to those who have been forced to flee their homes,” said Philippa Candler, UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan.
“By bringing together the Afghan and Pakistani women’s football teams, we aim to promote unity, peace, and empowerment among women from these neighbouring countries.”
Candler also emphasized the importance of investing in women and girls’ well-being and health, highlighting the positive impact on entire communities when women are empowered.
The football event is part of a commitment by UNHCR to focus on the mental and physical health of refugees and host communities, with participation in sports providing a transformative opportunity for women and girls to flourish and thrive.
Following the inspiring match, a special session was organized for young girls from the community to learn and practice football skills under the guidance of members from the Afghan and Pakistani women’s football teams.
This workshop aimed to inspire and empower the next generation of female athletes by providing them with role models and hands-on training opportunities.
