Aminullah Yaqubi arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2006 and began a new life wanting to contribute to Australian society.
Now running a wrestling gym and coaching business in Melbourne, Amin has taken his trainees to represent Australia on the international level, bringing home medals in the process.
“All my energy goes into the future of my athletes and helping them accomplish their goals,” he tells SBS Pashto. “I believe in them and it’s so fulfilling to see my students achieve things they didn't know they were capable of. Our gym is a place where everyone is welcome, a place for us to work hard and grow together as a team. Most of us would consider it a family.”
Amin says he has been able to change some of these Aussies lives for the better as well, beyond just training them to an elite level. He has helped some younger people to overcome their anxiety or drug habits and more.
Amin Yaqubi's trainees. Source: Supplied, AY
“The skills I teach to my students on the mat also apply outside in everyday life and in school,” he says. “I've had many students who have improved in terms of discipline regarding good habits, kid's behaviour at school, their health and outlook on life.
“My role is much more than just a coach, my job doesn't end after class. It’s my responsibility to ensure that all my students and not just physically ok but mentally so I provide support and advice to them in any way that I can.”
Amin Yaqubi with his team. Source: Supplied, AY
But before Amin came to Australia he says he endured tremendous hardship during the Taliban rule from the mid-1990s to 2001.
The Taliban’s brutal interpretation of Islamic law permeated into every aspect of daily life, including public executions and limiting women from public life.
Amin says he was forced to provide coaching to Taliban militants.
“Before the Taliban, I was providing training in a military club called Awrdo but when Taliban took over they were running the club, and I had no choice but to train them.”
'The wrestling mat was in the centre of the stadium and they wanted to cut one person’s hand off and stone the other person. We begged them not to do it on wrestling mat'
The Taliban’s brutality significantly changed the way sport was practiced in Afghanistan, as a horrific story from Amin demonstrates. He says that a 1998 sporting competition in Kabul was interrupted to carry out a public execution in the middle of a stadium.
“They [the Taliban] stopped the games midway and brought out two persons accused of committing crimes,” says Amin. “The wrestling mat was in the centre of the stadium and they wanted to cut one person’s hand off and stone the other person. We begged them not to do it on wrestling mat…. Even though they were forcing people at the ground to watch the punishment, I turned my face away and couldn’t watch. It was horrible, we couldn’t continue with the matches, and my brother and I left and came home.”
Amin eventually escaped the regime to Pakistan and went into hiding. He was found in Pakistan, but Amin told those who found him that his mother was sick and he could not return to Afghanistan to continue coaching the militants.
Amin Yaqubi, after winning the wrestling match in Kabul Afghanistan. Source: Supplied, AY
After the US invasion, the Taliban lost almost all control in Afghanistan, but the group has managed to regroup and launch attacks against Afghan civilians, government, and international troops in recent years.
Even though the war against the Taliban and other terrorist groups is now in its 17th year, the group claim control of half the Afghan territory and are not defeated.
Peace talks are currently underway in the Qatari capital, Doha, between the Taliban and the US, President Donald Trump claims that the talks are proceeding well.
Amin is optimistic for the talks, but worries about the potential for the Taliban to take control of the whole country once more.
“Peace talks are a good thing, but it shouldn’t take us back to the Taliban regime as we have achieved a lot through post-Taliban,” Amin says.
Source: Supplied
“Even now I can't go back to my city, and when my brother who lives in Afghanistan wanted to open a wrestling gym in Maidan Shar, the Taliban forced him to close his gym. He couldn’t provide training even for two days, they are the same they haven't changed yet.”
