Sports groups and individuals have rallied to support Afghan refugees evacuated from Kabul last month in a dramatic airlift.
AMES Australia has been connecting young refugees with cricket, soccer, taekwondo and junior sports groups which have offered sports equipment, club memberships and moral support to the Afghans.
Big Bash cricketer Peter Hatzoglou, who has played alongside Afghan cricketers Mohammad Nabi and Ahmad Noor, recorded a welcome message for the newly arrived Afghans.
Peter said that cricket was the sport that united all of Australia and welcomed people of all races, faiths, gender and levels of skill.
“All Australians and especially the cricket community is glad that you are here and safe, and we want to welcome you,” Peter said.
The Afghan Soccer Association (ASA) has rallied the local Afghan community and local soccer clubs and is donating hundreds of packs of Afghan bread to ensure that clients living a long way from the bakery can get access to the favourite family staple.
ASA spokesperson Raz Beqari and the team has been liaising with AMES Australia and coordinating van loads of material aid including soccer balls and boots.
Football Federation Victoria is also gearing up to supply soccer equipment and facilitate club memberships for Afghans interested in playing.
Members of the Afghan women’s soccer national teams are among the refugees who arrived from Kabul.
The players were grateful and excited to be in Australia even though they had worries about family members still in Afghanistan.
“We want to play football again as a way of building out future and connecting,” she said.
Afghan taekwondo players are also among the new arrivals and have been offered support by Taekwondo Victoria.