Inspired by the “extraordinary” rise of his country’s national futsal team, Mustafa beats the dawn every day to train in a busy sports complex in central Kabul.
The 21-year-old was proud to see Afghanistan play its first-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan this month, rubbing shoulders against top teams like Argentina, Paraguay and Ukraine.
“We feel extremely happy, it helps us to have a dream, and understand that nothing is impossible in our lives, and if we try hard for something we can achieve it,” he said, hinting at his goal of also representing his country one day.
Photo: AFP
In the group stage, Afghanistan beat Angola 6-4, conceded a hard-fought loss to the 2016 champions Argentina 2-1, and lost to Ukraine 4-1. It still booked its place in the knockout last 16 in the mega-event.
On Wednesday night, Afghanistan was knocked out 3-1 by Paraguay. Despite the loss, its men in white and red in Tashkent met with applause from hundreds of fired-up Afghan fans in the stadium, as seen live on a local Afghan television channel.
The World Cup campaign might have ended, but for young Afghans like Mustafa, the steady rise of the Afghan team has been a powerful motivator.
“When you see your team, with the national flag and national anthem reach to the top, it gives motivation to be organized and disciplined and chase your goals,” Mustafa said.
As the Taliban government has not been recognized by any other state, Afghanistan’s national athletes competing in international events carry the tricolor flag adopted by the former government, now banned by the Taliban.
As for the national anthem, it has effectively been banned too, as the Taliban has prohibited playing music in public, deeming it un-Islamic.
Still, “participating in the World Cup is a historic achievement. To be in the round of super 16 is a proud moment for all of us,” trainer Mahboob Saeedi said, agreeing with his enthusiastic pupil.
However, the infrastructure for the game does not match the passion for it in the war-torn country, which is facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies.
Professionals lament inadequate investment to provide standard grounds and finance the sport.
“We have great talents in Afghanistan, but we lack sports facilities and buildings, so we face a lot of problems,” said Abdul Ahad Rustamzada, manager of the Tolo Sports Complex.
“Youths cannot pay the [training] fees, yet we try our best to support them,” the 37-year-old said.
The stories of the Afghan national futsal team members are not so different from those of many enthusiasts of the game back home. They had to work in other professions to make ends meet, either in Afghanistan or in neighboring countries. The team had a preparation camp in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, before flying to Tashkent for the World Cup.
“They have to work to provide the livelihood that their families expect from them, they cannot concentrate much on futsal training,” Mustafa said, hoping their showing at the event might grab some attention at the international level.
The Taliban have effectively banned women from sports and the country has seen the gradual implementation of an austere version of Islam that has forced entertainment out of public spaces.
Nevertheless, recent performances from Afghan athletes in sports like cricket, futsal and martial arts offer rare moments of joy in the otherwise somber country.
“In the current circumstances, Afghanistan making it to the super 16 is a big achievement,” Rustamzada said.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The horn sounded on Wednesday night to signal a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers celebrated merely by hopping over the boards and several heading over to congratulate goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a subdued celebration seemingly more befitting a regular-season win for the reigning Cup champs. “I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said, adding: “It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind.” The Panthers closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with a 5-3 victory in
STRONG CONNECTION: Although she has considered switching nationalities, Garland said that if it was not for Taiwan’s support throughout her career, she would not be in Paris British-Taiwanese player Joanna Garland on Tuesday became the first Taiwanese to clinch a victory in a main singles draw of the French Open since 2020 after she outlasted the US’ Katie Volynets in Paris. The world No. 175, Taiwan’s highest-ranked female player in singles, said she would rely on her self-belief as she prepares for her second-round match at the French Open after overcoming a serious injury to qualify for a maiden Grand Slam appearance. After navigating her way through the qualifiers last week, Garland secured her first win at the main draw of a Grand Slam by battling past world No.
RSS