Thirty-five players from Afghanistan women’s national team and their families, a total of 130 people are threatened in their country by the return of power Taliban, to the UK on Thursday on a flight funded by the American socialite Kim kardashian.
The athletes, who lost the organized airlift in Kabul in August, lived in fear in Afghanistan with their families after the Taliban seized power.
They landed Thursday at London’s Stansted Airport, according to ROKiT, which helped them leave Afghanistan. According to the British agency PA, the athletes were evacuated to the UK on a flight funded by socialite Kim Kardashian.
Seo Ann Gil, CEO of ROKiT, was “very moved by the courage of these girls,” adding that she hoped the “football family” would help them with this “second chance in their lives.”
The young players have received support from Leeds United, whose owner, Andrea Radrizzani, said in a statement he was “delighted” with the team’s arrival in the UK.
“It shows the power of football and sport in general as a force for good and how the football community is able to collaborate and mobilize to save lives,” he added.
Leeds suggested hosting these players in the youth categories to give them a “prosperous future”.
A British government spokeswoman said: “Like the other people we have brought from Afghanistan to the UK, the girls on the Afghan Women’s Team will be warmly welcomed, supported and accommodated.”
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