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Footballer Fahima Yousofi, 18, arrived in New Zealand from Afghanistan last September when she and her family fled the Taliban. Next week she will begin training with the Phoenix Academy team.

A young refugee will train among New Zealands best up-and-coming footballers just months after fleeing war-torn Afghanistan.

Fahima Yousofis tutors from the English Teaching College in Lower Hutt put in a call to the Wellington Phoenix after she revealed her talent at a school picnic. From February, Yousofi will begin training with the clubs academy team.

With her sister, Farzana Yousofi, acting as an interpreter, the 18-year-old said the trip through the riotous crowds outside Kabul Airport was not as frightening as the prospect from which she was escaping being forcefully made a bride.

Yousofi, who played football in Afghanistan to a high level, is pleased she will be playing football again. She arrived in New Zealand in September around the time the air force was making mercy flights to and from the Afghan capital with her family. Members of her extended family had already settled in New Zealand.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

The Wellington Phoenix Academys technical director Paul Temple says Fahima Yousofis journey to the club has been an unusual one, and he is keen to kelp her get back into football.

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Its my favourite hobby. I want to be the best player in the world, said Yousofi, a midfielder, who also plays in the forwards.

Having met with her on Tuesday, Phoenix Academy technical director Paul Temple said it was clear she was very keen to play again.

WELLINGTON PHOENIX

Wellington Phoenix coach Gemma Lewis frustrated by changes to upcoming schedule.

With the club sorting her out with boots and kit, she will be joining in the Phoenixs academy team training.

Were going in a little bit blind, but we want to help her if we can. If shes played international football, this will be the right place for her.

Shell spend a few weeks training and from there well see what the best option is for her.

Having not seen her play, Temple was keen to get her on the pitch.

This is quite unusual. Obviously we deal with overseas players all the time, but thats always arranged in advance.

We want to help her get back into football, whether thats with the Phoenix or playing with a [local] club.

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Refugee to train with Phoenix Academy after fleeing Taliban takeover of Afghanistan - Stuff.co.nz