Playing For My Future
Mona Amini, Australia
In August 2021 the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Members of the Afghan Women’s National Team were forced into hiding, before they fled the country to safety in Australia with help from the team’s former captain Khalida Popal.
Since then, they have built new lives in Australia and resumed playing football. This has included the formation of the Melbourne Victory Afghan Women's Team.
In partnership with Hummel, Goal Click is telling the stories of the players of the Afghanistan Women’s National Team. Hummel has been a long-time supporter of the team, providing kit for the team and aid for their journey in Australia. To support the team and their fight for equality, you can buy their jersey here.
Mona Amini, 17, was a player with the team and now lives and plays in Sydney. She tells the story of growing up playing football in Afghanistan, the impact of her parents, and her football ambitions.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Mona Amini, I am 17 years old, and I am from Kabul, Afghanistan. I started to play football for my country when I was 13 years old. Now I am playing in Sydney in Australia for Bankstown City Lions FC Under 18s in the NPL1 division.
When I was a child, I had a special interest in football and I always played with the ball. At the age of five, I participated in the training of a boys' team with my father because he was the coach, and I enjoyed it very much. I wanted to grow up and play football. My father was the coach of one of the biggest clubs in Afghanistan and also he was national men’s and women’s team goalkeeper coach.
From the moment I stepped on the ball, my sports journey was not easy and had its own problems, but my family always supported me and gave me hope. I always saw my mother as a role model because she always fights against all problems. And I also learned how to fight problems from my mother. I am really very happy to have such a mother.
The whole world knows that Afghanistan has faced many problems and especially for a class of girls and women in Afghanistan, life is very hard and unimaginable. When I started playing football, I faced many problems - other people's words, fear of the Taliban, fear of what will happen tomorrow, will I survive or not?
Even though I was a child, I still faced many problems, but I always fought and will continue to fight.
When I was eight years old, I started playing football more seriously. I was able to win important awards when I qualified to play in the Women's Premier League. Five times I won the award for the best women’s player of the Premier League - four times in futsal and once in football. Three times I won the title of Mrs. Goal - two times in futsal and once in football.
What did you try to capture with your photos? Was there a wider meaning?
The photos were taken in Sydney, Australia and they show my friends and teammates from Bankstown City Lions FC U18.
I also took photos of my friend and teammate Mina. She is like my sister and now I consider her a member of my family. I wanted to take photos of Mina because I love photography and it is a great way to capture memories.
I tried to show that I am an active person in my community and I can make what I want happen. I wanted to show that if you want to be successful, you have to work hard to achieve your goals.
What does football mean to you and your community?
The sport of football contributes to societies by giving an opportunity for football players to give back to their community, by inspiring players to be great people, and by teaching players how to control their emotions. A good society has members that give back to their community. More than any other sport, football provides a platform for people to come together and support their country.
International events like the World Cup bring people together and serve as a universal point around which to rally and show national pride and unity.
What do you think the future looks like for women’s football for your team and in your community and country?
The opportunities for women and girls to play football inside Afghanistan had become very much better during the last few years. Many girls had shown interest in football and had improved a lot, and they were especially supported by their families. Women's Premier Leagues were held. And all the girls and women, even though they had many challenges, they fought very strongly against these problems. They tried to achieve their dreams until the Taliban came to Afghanistan and all Afghan women and girls were deprived of sports.
How has your experience of playing in Australia been so far?
My experience of playing in Australia in 2022 was fine, but I am trying to be better this season and make my future greater. I am looking forward to our next tournaments, so I am working hard. I want to be proud of our performances.
What ambitions do you have for the future?
My ambition in the future is to be selected by one of the great teams in Australia or Europe and play for one of the biggest clubs. Specifically I want to play for my country again in the national team.
