Singapore Football Legend Helps Afghan Women and Paralympians Escape Kabul

Craig Foster’s Midnight Mission: From Sydney to Kabul

Midnight, a quiet coffee on the balcony, and the sudden impossible call that turned a calm night into a roller‑coaster of emotions. Craig Foster, ex‑Aussie captain and Singapore‑born human rights warrior, was spooked into action when the Australian Foreign Minister telephoned him about a desperate rescue mission that spanned continents and risked a life‑saver in each corner of the globe.

What went down

Foster’s phone rang in the dark hours of the night, and a voice on the other end — Marise Payne — registered that the Afghan women’s football squad had finally stepped onto the ground of Hamid Karzai International Airport.
An 80‑strong squad — players, family, officials — had trekked 30 hours through a fortified perimeter, wobbly under the threat of a military guard who’d turned them back a couple of times.
World news outlets announced the evacuees’ safe arrival on August 24, thanks to a team of former athletes that included Foster.

Feelings on the call

In The New Paper interview, Foster reflected with half‑tears, half‑jokey “boom” vibes:

Joy & relief as the overdue group finally found shelter.
“If you’re stuck outside a military perimeter for almost a day and a half, you start to question if you’re going to survive a hair‑dryer shortage.”
He described the first breath of hope that surged across the rescue crew: a feeling that championship jerseys might still get them back.
A shout‑out to Australian Foreign Minister Payne and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, “You moved so fast, you made the whole exit plan a breeze!”

Why Singapore matters

“I got my love for football and my fight for justice from Singapore.” Foster confessed. “Grabbing a football in a tiny dorm room with a cousin who could talk the pledge of the Republic in 1991 was my first lesson: you can change the world while you just try to keep your shin guards from getting stuck in the mud.”

Bottom line

The night call turned a quiet night for Foster into an unforgettable mission that crossed continents, crossed cultures, and crossed the soul of a man who once showed the world that a football team can be a beacon for rights and a life‑saving moving target.

Fascinating, beautiful

From Sydney to the World: Foster’s Global Football Odyssey

Picture this: 52‑year‑old Josh Foster, a former ABC soccer star, comforts himself with a steaming cup of espresso while hopping on a Zoom call from Sydney. But the real headline? His legendary two‑decade trek from Aussie suburbs to the glittering streets of Singapore, then Hong Kong, and finally London—all thanks to football.

Why Singapore Was the First Stop

Age 21 – Josh tossed his backpack into the cityscape and landed in Singapore.
“The country was fascinating and beautiful,” he told us, reminiscing about the sunset over Marina Bay.
He claims the experience shaped his character, expanding his view of the world beyond the comfort zone.

Continuing the Cartwheel: Hong Kong & London

The football passport proved a passport to adventure. After Singapore, Josh moved to the electric streets of Hong Kong, then to the heart of the British Empire in London, picking up trophies (and stories) along the way. “It was a gift—like a soccer belt, but one you didn’t have to pay for,” he joked.

Now on the Australian Multicultural Council

After a 18‑year stint with the multicultural broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Josh found himself serving on the Australian Multicultural Council. “Switching from the field to the policy board is about as wild as a full‑back dodging a defender in the last minute,” he says.

Key Takeaways

Football can be a passport to the world.
Culture, travel, and personal growth often go hand in hand.
Even a seasoned athlete can make a smooth transition to civic service.

With his signature grin and a hint that the next big goal might be a new community initiative, Foster’s story reminds us that life’s best journeys are often the most unexpected. Who knew that a soccer ball could launch a 52‑year‑old from Sydney to Singapore, then Hong Kong, London, and back to Australia with a heart full of stories and a phone full of deadlines?

From Singapore Streets to Afghan Skies: A Global Hero’s Mission

Why a Singaporean’s early friends mattered

Living in Singapore, I picked up mates from Chinese, Malay and Indian backgrounds right from the start. That sense of “we’re all in this together” shaped the human‑rights crusade I’m chasing today. It was the first step toward becoming a true global citizen.

Foster’s Road to Redemption

Chronically a champion, the dude who netted 29 caps for Australia is now a legend in the rescue game. He and a band of former athletes pulled off a jaw‑drop operation that sent over a hundred Afghan female athletes, families, officials and everyday Afghans to safety as the Taliban tightened its grasp.

The Tokyo Ancilla Phantasm: Zakia & Hossain

Even Paralympians Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli weren’t left out. The team ensured those Tokyo champions could breathe easy far away from the chaos.

Foster’s Reign of Rescues

Mobilized a global push that secured the release of Bahrain’s football hero Hakeem al‑Araibi. He was ripped from a Thai jail, got a visa, and is now an Aussie citizen.
Collaborated with Canadian swimmer Nikki Dryden and kickboxing‑turned‑lawyer Alison Battisson, working hand‑in‑hand with Geneva’s Centre for Sport and Human Rights and FIFPro.
Stole the spotlight during the American troops’ withdrawal from Kabul. A heartfelt plea: “Women’s rights, gender equality, girls playing sports – it’s non‑negotiable!”

The “Legends for the Legend” Lobby

Foster called on old‑school Aussie icons like Kurt Fearnley (Paralympian) and Zali Steggall (first Winter Olympian medalist and MP). Together, they radio’d the Aussie Government, and ruck‑racked the Ministry of Sports, Immigration and Foreign Affairs into action.

Swipe to the big win: visas slapped, the Afghan women’s football squad headed out of Kabul, and almost 80 refugees strolled onto Australian soil via Dubai.

Post‑Rescue Reality

After an “extraordinary ordeal,” the athletes are settling in. We’ve funded fundraising efforts and swerved a massive surge of solidarity. Foster is already lining up resettlement services to help them integrate into Aussie life.

The Call Forward

“Governments worldwide, it’s time to talk to the Taliban and push forward on women’s rights,” Foster reminds us passionately. He hopes for more leaders to step up and aid the Afghan people as they navigate this pivotal juncture.

Responsibility

Craig Foster Uses His Sports Fame to Make a Difference

Foster says being on the field isn’t just about glory—it’s about social currency and the platform it gives him to champion people who don’t have the same chances.

Why His Voice Matters

“Sport gives us a megaphone and a big ticket to the parties of change.”
Like Fandi Ahmad in Singapore, Craig knows that power brings responsibility.
He’s on a mission: lift up the underprivileged, whether it’s fighting climate change or cracking vaccine inequality.

More Than Just a Game

Foster thinks the world can listen when every sport goalie steps up. “Spot the global arena; it’s calling on all of us to do more.”

Big Highlights Ahead

Welcome, Afghan women’s national team—an icon that shows what happens when we mobilise our worldwide squad.
Australia will host them, turning the match into a showcase of the power of unity.

——Originally published in The New Paper. Permission required for reproduction.

Singapore Football Legend Helps Afghan Women and Paralympians Escape Kabul