Exiled from their homeland, Afghanistan's women's national team begins their journey back to international football

An Afghan refugee women's team is training to compete in its first domestic Australian football season in Melbourne.

The athletes have been reunited after fleeing Kabul last August.

Melbourne Victory is helping the players prepare for their first matches in March. 

«We're carrying the baton from a lot of great work that's gone over the past few months,» said Victory's director of football, John Didulica.

«It's what they really want to do to make their mark globally, to assert their independence through participation in football.

»That hasn't been easy because they've got family back in Afghanistan, and they're fearful for the fate of those family members.

«This is a brave step for them to come forward and put their hands up and continue playing in defiance of the regime in Kabul.»

The team's quality is being assessed; Football Victoria is likely to enter the squad in a state league division two or three competition.

«It's wonderful,» goalkeeper Fati said (players asked ABC Sport to use their nicknames to protect their privacy).

Having escaped the Taliban, Afghanistan's women footballers are finding family and freedom back on the pitch.

«We have the most important thing for all of us – we have security, we have sport, we don't have our families, but at least we have the thing we didn't have in Afghanistan.

»My teammates, including me, we're all forgetting everything.

«Being on the field, it's like everything is new. We are thinking about the future. We are all making our homes. We are all together now, and one day we will be with our families too, and that's the hope.»

Another player, Moslih, said it was a relief to get back into training.

«Actually, after six months, it's an amazing feeling and I can't explain it,» she said.

«When