Members of the Afghan junior women’s football team have asked the UK government for asylum.
They have been staying in a Lahore hotel since fleeing from the Taliban and will need to leave Pakistan once their emergency visas expire on October 12.
The 35 girls, who are aged 13-19, plus 94 coaches and family members, have been financially supported by the ROKiT Foundation and offered assistance by figures in the UK, including Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat and the owner of Premier League side Leeds United, Andrea Radrizzani.
They cannot return to their homes as they face persecution from the Taliban.
Speaking to the Sky News, Narges, 18, said she and her teammates are also desperate for the chance to play football again - something that is banned for girls under the Taliban.
As a message for the UK government, the teenager added: "If you can accept us we would be really happy that we can live in the UK and have the UK as a host country for us.
"The only thing we want from your government and your humanitarian institutions is to find a host country for us in order to help us to be happy again and be alive again, to make a new life and be good football players in the future."
The senior women’s team was granted asylum in Australia, but the junior team faced an ordeal leaving Afghanistan after the chaotic way the capital fell to the Taliban, having to hide and then facing issues crossing the border with Pakistan.
The UK has already pledged to house 20,000 Afghans in the next few years, following the withdrawal of coalition forces, and the collapse of the Afghan government earlier this year.
They have been staying in a Lahore hotel since fleeing from the Taliban and will need to leave Pakistan once their emergency visas expire on October 12.
The 35 girls, who are aged 13-19, plus 94 coaches and family members, have been financially supported by the ROKiT Foundation and offered assistance by figures in the UK, including Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat and the owner of Premier League side Leeds United, Andrea Radrizzani.
They cannot return to their homes as they face persecution from the Taliban.
Speaking to the Sky News, Narges, 18, said she and her teammates are also desperate for the chance to play football again - something that is banned for girls under the Taliban.
As a message for the UK government, the teenager added: "If you can accept us we would be really happy that we can live in the UK and have the UK as a host country for us.
"The only thing we want from your government and your humanitarian institutions is to find a host country for us in order to help us to be happy again and be alive again, to make a new life and be good football players in the future."
The senior women’s team was granted asylum in Australia, but the junior team faced an ordeal leaving Afghanistan after the chaotic way the capital fell to the Taliban, having to hide and then facing issues crossing the border with Pakistan.
The UK has already pledged to house 20,000 Afghans in the next few years, following the withdrawal of coalition forces, and the collapse of the Afghan government earlier this year.
