"I Am Free": Afghan Girls' Soccer Squad Finds New Home In Portugal
NDTV
Sarah was one of several players from Afghanistan's national female youth soccer squad who fled in fear after the Taliban seized power in August.
Leaving her homeland Afghanistan was painful, says 15-year-old Sarah. But now safely in Portugal, she hopes to pursue her dream of playing soccer professionally -- and perhaps meeting her idol, star striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sarah was one of several players from Afghanistan's national female youth soccer squad who fled their country in fear after the Taliban hardline Islamist movement seized power in August. Portugal has granted asylum to the young footballers. "I'm free," she said, smiling from ear-to-ear as she visited Lisbon's landmark Belem Tower on the River Tagus with her mother and teammates.
"My dream is to be a good player like Ronaldo - and I want to be a big business woman here in Portugal," she said. She hoped to go back home one day but only if she can live freely. Her mother, who requested that Reuters did not use their surname, had experienced first-hand a previous era of Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001.
She is less optimistic they will ever be able to return. Taliban leaders have promised to respect women's rights but under their first government, women could not work and girls were banned from school.
