Former captain of Afghanistan’s women’s soccer team Khalida Popal pushed players to give up their public identities, destroy their football kits and delete social media handles to ensure their own safety as the Taliban has taken control of the country.

In an interview with Reuters, the former soccer player explained that with the new turn of events in Afghanistan, female athletes were scared for their future. She further claimed that the Taliban had stoned, raped and killed women.

“Today I’m calling them and telling them, take down their names, remove their identities, take down their photos for their safety. Even I’m telling them to burn down or get rid of your national team uniform,” she said in an interview with Reuters.

Popal, who is based out of Denmark’s Copenhagen, said she is reversing her general outlook towards women speaking up for themselves as the Taliban took over. She said previously she had urged all women to “stand strong, to be bold, to be visible”, according to reports from news agency Reuters.

The Taliban has been previously been in control of Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, during which the militant organisation imposed strict rules in the country that restricted women.

During the half a decade long rule of the Taliban, women were not allowed to go out in public without being accompanied by a man. Moreover, women had to wear burqas while in public. Girls were restricted from going to school.

Popal, in the interview with the news agency, said that the reversal of her opinion is painful for herself. She said, “For someone as an activist who stood up and did everything possible to achieve and earn that identity as a women’s national team player.”

Her statement added, “To earn that badge on the chest, to have the right to play and represent our country, how much we were proud”, according to reports from Reuters.