International Surrey Football, debuted in, formed in 2021, co-founded the World Unity Football Alliance, a federation of nineteen internationally based representative football teams aligned by the common values of empathy, compassion, equity, honesty, and respect for universal human rights. They state, “We work equitably together on projects, campaigns, and events that elevate the Alliance’s mission and values, and those of each of our teams.”
They are looking to arrange a friendly between the Afghanistan Development side and their senior women’s team on Sunday 29th May at the Meadowbank Stadium in Dorking, Surrey. In order to do so, they need some support from you. They are seeking to raise £1,000 to make it happen and support their opponents to participate in the game.
The money being raised through a mixture of crowdfunding, sponsorship, and other donations to help cover the expenses related to the trip, includes a coach to bring the Afghanistan team to Surrey from the temporary hotel accommodation they are currently based at, overnight accommodation at a hotel in Dorking, food for the duration of their trip, and match related expenses include pitch hiring costs, match official fees, and other associated expenses.
The Afghanistan Women’s Development team, facing the threat of persecution and death for simply playing football as women, were able to escape the Taliban in September following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and they finally made it safely to the UK in November 2021.
Currently living in temporary accommodation we’re working to help arrange for the team to travel to Dorking in Surrey for a friendly fixture against their senior women’s team as part of a two-day trip for the team which will include other team building activities and more to help spread awareness of their situation, but to most importantly to allow them to do the thing they enjoy more, playing football.
A spokesperson said, “By arranging this friendly football match we hope to continue to raise awareness of their situation and the importance of ensuring women and girls have access to play football and enjoy it safely, these players have been through a lot over the past year and we hope this experience will be worthwhile for them, but also not the only opportunity they have to represent their country.”
If you are able to help then you can donate here.