Last March, Pakistan-based Taliban released a tape of new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour. Warning of a growing presence in Afghanistan, a jihadist commander said Taliban would intensify their fight against the United States until all of the occupied countries are ousted from its territories.
“Some of us have been dreaming for 20 years, and today with the new leadership of Taliban we can say that the dream has come true,” said Popal in an interview with FOX News. “We won’t allow this to happen again.”
Popal is the first woman to be appointed head of Afghan soccer association. She played with the national team and was captained the AllAfghan Football team when they qualified for the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2006.
Today, Popal is the first female vice president of Afghanistan.
There is no women’s national team in the country. Women athletes from Afghanistan pay to travel to attend the Asian Cup in Qatar, an annual competition for men and women competing across Asia.
“A very important message is that women must take charge of their own destiny, and if they can’t run their own country or just travel around they’re useless,” said Popal.
Click here to watch video of Popal in the interview.
