Nazia Ali

I started playing football at a very early age, before finally joining the club to train properly. We participated in the football tournament where the Afghan football federation coaches were scouting for the U13 - U15 national team, and I was selected as one of the best players, and so at the age of 14 I was also selected to play for the senior women's national team. 

I love football because it helped me to overcome the sorrow of losses in life. I was 5 when my father was killed by the Taliban and then at the age of 12, my mother was killed by the Taliban. I wasn't even able to see them for the last time. Football was a place for me to find my inner peace, family, and happiness and it helped me to overcome sadness. I stood up stronger and kicked the ball as revenge against the Taliban who took my parents from me. I found my sisterhood community through football and today I am using it to stand for my rights and the rights of every Afghan Girl who lost their dreams.

After the fall of Afghanistan, together with my teammates from the Afghanistan women's senior team and with the support of the Australian government, we were evacuated from Kabul. After spending time in transit hotels in Dubai and Sydney, we moved as a team to Melbourne and started playing under Melbourne Victory’s club license as our club team. Football became home for us and the team became our family; we were all there for each other.

We missed our families. I was adopted by a foster family because I was under 18 and I couldn't live by myself. I am glad my sisters were able to join me. I was worried for them because in Afghanistan my sisters were not allowed to work, study, or even live alone without men. I feel a bit relieved now. 

Life as a refugee is not easy, but I am kicking the ball to make a difference and to use my platform to be the voice for our Afghan sisters. 

I am now playing for Melbourne Victory AWT, and also for the academy. For me football is real feeling of peace and tranquility. It is only when I playing football that I feel that there is peace in the world, and it gives me this feeling of being strong and real. When I lost my mother, football was the only thing that gave me peace.