Off the wire
• Restrictions in Indian-controlled Kashmir to stop protests over execution of Saudi Shiite cleric  • Roundup: Hong Kong stocks close 2.68 pct lower  • China begins environmental inspection in northern province  • Authorities impose curfew in Yemen's Aden amid tension  • Roundup: S. Korean shares drop on worries about China's economy, Mideast  • Roundup: Three dead, hundred injured as panic, fear grip Bangladeshis in predawn earthquake  • Hong Kong stocks close 2.68 pct lower  • Japan's traffic deaths rise for 1st time in 15 years in 2015  • Punjab airbase gunfight enters third day, India says operation to prolong  • 2nd LD Writethru: Attacker killed in suicide bombing in Kabul  
You are here: 　 Home

(Sports) Feature: Sport and sports' fans source of unity among Afghans

Xinhua, January 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Afghans from all walks of life including the politicians and street beggars enthusiastically watched the final match between Afghan football national team and Indian team at South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship on Sunday night with praying for Afghanistan's victory.

Irrespective of ethnic, lingual and tribal differences, hundreds of thousands of people braved the chilly weather to watch the match on big screens at public parks in the capital city of Kabul and other cities.

The serving President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and former President Hamid Karzai as well as chief executive Abdullah Abdullah watched the match in their residents.

"I fell proud that Afghanistan team after defeating Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka is aggressively matching India," a spectator Ahmad Fawad told Xinhua at the scenic hilltop park of Wazir Akbar Khan district.

Indian team following playing tough match was able to lead the game 2-1, enabling Afghan team to secure second place in SAFF Championship, submitting the title of SAFF championship to India.

Watching the match on mini-screen at the hilltop park, the exciting Fawad whispered that Afghan team could have won the match if the referee respected impartiality.

Many Afghans are critical over what they term as "biased" the referee's manner, alleging that "referee's tendency" towards Indian team has helped India to win the match.

"Promoting sport in the country and joining international competitions can unite us," another football fan, Abdul Qayum, told Xinhua.

Continued militancy, violence and producing drug in Afghanistan have defamed the country over the past couple of decades.

"By developing sports, arts and other social activities at home and attending sport matches at regional and international level, our athletes can portray the real face of Afghanistan which is a peace loving nation," Qayum said.

Afghanistan has made tremendous achievements in the field of sports over the past decade as Afghan athletes have brought medals of honors home from regional and international competitions including 2008 Beijing and London 2012 Olympic Games.

On Monday, president Ghani congratulated the Afghan National Football Team over the win and securing the second place in SAFF Championship held in India.

Joining the ordinary Afghans in backing sport and encouraging athletes, the Afghan government functionaries have also shown support to the country's football team over its achievements in SAFF tournament.

"I am sure that Afghan football team victory will strengthen unity among Afghans," Afghan Minister for Economy Abdul Sattar Murad told local media on Sunday.

A group of senior Afghan government officials, parliamentarians and football fans traveled to India to encourage Afghan team in the match against Indian team, played on Sunday.

"Sport is the main source for establishing peace and stability in the conflict-ridden country," another Afghan cabinet member Sayed Hussain Alami Balkhi said in talks with local media. Endit