Khalida Popal visits Lezama
Khalida Popal visits Lezama
The former captain of Afghanistan's first women's national team, now a refugee in Denmark, campaigns for women's rights in her home country
A passion for football led Khalida Popal to break down barriers and form the first all-women's football team in Afghanistan, a country where women's basic human rights are not respected.
As a result, she was persecuted in her country of birth and was forced to go into exile in Denmark. From there, she runs ‘Girl Power’, an organisation she founded herself, which operates in Germany, Australia, Denmark, Greece, Portugal and the United Kingdom. ‘Girl Power’ provides new opportunities for refugee women and has succeeded in getting some 600 female football players and their families, including members of the Afghan national team, out of Afghanistan.
An example of courage and a model of inspiration, Popal recently visited Lezama and shared her experience with the Athletic Club Women squad.