If it wasn’t for Khalida Popal, the fate of Afghanistan’s national women’s team could have been vastly different.

Eight months on from their escape from the Taliban, who seized control of Afghanistan by force in August 2021, members of the women’s team have found a new home in Melbourne, having feared persecution under the hands of the militant regime.

Popal, a former captain of the national team and advocate for women’s rights, had helped to secure the players’ safe evacuation out of Kabul during her indefatigable efforts from her home in Denmark last August.

Last week the Afghanistan women’s national team played their first competitive match since fleeing to Australia, in an emotional return to the field, following their adoption by A-Leagues club Melbourne Victory. 

On Wednesday evening, Khalida will share her personal account of assisting the team to relocate safely to Australia, as well as her own personal journey within football and human rights, with members of the PFA on an exclusive webinar.

About Khalida Popal

Popal is a former Afghanistan Women’s National Team captain who has helped to empower women through football. She is the founder and director of the Girl Power Organisation, an ambassador to the Street Child World Cup and is also the former leader of the Afghanistan women’s Football Committee and former youth coach of the under-17 and under-15 Afghanistan women’s teams.

Khalida will share her inspirational story about founding the Afghanistan national women’s team, influencing change as a footballer, and helping to coordinate the evacuation of young female Afghan football players and their families to Australia in 2021.

The exclusive members webinar will focus on athlete activism, human rights and sport and social change.

Following successful Players’ Journey conversations with Tony Adams MBE and David Davutovic and Tim Brown and Jason Pine, Popal will be joined in conversation by Kat Craig, founder and CEO of Athlead, a not-for-profit consultancy specialising in sport and human rights, with a particular expertise in athlete activism.

Event Details:
Players’ Journey with Khalida Popal

Wednesday 27 April 2022
7.30pm – 8.30pm (AEDT)
Please contact your Player Development Manager for details to the event or check your member email for the dial-in details. 

The event is for PFA Members only.