Thirty-five Afghan women’s youth team players and their families, a total of 130 have been threatened in their homeland by the Taliban, arrived in the UK on Thursday on a plane sponsored by US star Kim Kardashian.
The athletes, who lost an airlift arranged in Kabul in August, have lived in fear with their families in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to power.
This Thursday, the Rohit Foundation said they landed at Stansted Airport in London, which helped them to leave Afghanistan. The athletes were flown to the UK on a plane sponsored by reality TV star Kim Kardashian, according to the British agency PA.
Siu-Anne Gill, CEO of the Rokit Foundation, says she is “deeply touched by the courage of these women” and hopes the “football family” will help them with this “second chance in life”.
Leeds United backed the young players, and its owner Andrea Rodrஸszani said in a statement that he was “delighted” with the team’s arrival. “It shows the power of football and the game in general as a force for good and how the football community can cooperate and mobilize to save lives,” he added.
Leeds volunteered to host youth divisions to provide a “prosperous future” for these players.
“Like the other people we brought to the UK from Afghanistan, the girls on the Afghanistan women’s team will be warmly welcomed, supported and accommodated,” a British government spokesman said.
More Stories
What is early voting about voting on November 5th?
King Charles visits health center in India – 10/30/2024 – Celebrities
Pending home sales in the U.S. have risen for more than four years