Former captain Khalida Popal, who led the creation of the Afghan women's national football team, has complained that women's soccer players are at risk in Afghanistan, which has been seized by the Islamic militant Taliban.



Popal, who now lives in Denmark after leaving his homeland, told the BBC, "I get messages from the players. They cry and say, 'We're abandoned, we can't just stay at home'. They're terrified." "I couldn't sleep, and I cried and felt helpless," he said.



Popal played a key role in the creation of Afghanistan's first women's national football team in 2007, and was captain of the national team.



As a symbolic existence of a 'women playing soccer', he became a target of anti-feminist groups and the like, and as the death threats continued, he eventually left the country in 2011.



"Athletes send video and say they're out of breath and they're not getting any protection," Popal said.



Popal also said that the national team Twitter account was closed to protect the lives of former and current women's soccer players, and that they are also asking players to delete their social media accounts.



"I've been telling women and girls to be brave, but now they're taking down their photos, taking down their social media accounts and telling them not to speak up," Popal said. "It's painful," he said.



During the Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, girls were not educated, and women could not go out or go to work without a male guardian.



In public places, they had to wear a burqa that covered their face with a black cloth, and women's human rights were suppressed by violence.



Popal said, "In the 20 years women fought for human rights and freedom, we never thought we would be alone. We took risks and showed our faces, but now we're being told, 'There is no national interest in Afghanistan.' "I'm not talking about women activists or athletes or journalists at risk."



Popal, who is seeking help from sports-related organizations such as the International Olympic Committee and the IOC, appealed, "Please empower us to protect women whose identities have been exposed. Please help us for the safety of our athletes." 



(Photo = AP, Yonhap News)