Afghanistan: Football win: Seizing the moon by the teeth

http://www.afghanistantimes.af/

This is how sport ignites national feelings, sentiments and patriotism. As Afghanistan won the South Asian Football Federation Championship in Kathmandu late on Wednesday, tens of thousands of jubilant Afghans swelled into the streets, whistling, biking and raising Afghan national flags in the Kabul city. Joyous Afghans danced in Kandahar—which is generally considered to be the hotbed of the Taliban. This is something that was completely missing in the Afghanistan of the Taliban. They had suppressed anything that could have brought joyousness and jubilation among the troubled citizens of this country. This is ironical that when the Taliban were in power they were against any modern activities including sporting but when Afghanistan was fighting

against Pakistan in a cricket match, Zabihullah Mujahid—the Taliban spokesman called local media that he’d be happy if the Afghan side wins. It means they also watch Afghan sportsmen and realize the power of sports in current day world that how they bring together the different ethnic groups of the country into one single bonded relation—Afghanism. In the history of Afghanistan, Wednesday’s soccer match will be remembered for long as how they brought people out of dejection, despondency and gave them a message of spirit, unity and change. Thousands of fans welcomed their national football heroes. The win was so spectacular and promising that the Afghan President Hamid Karzai had to go to the Kabul Airport to receive these national champions. He embraced the players upon their arrival at the airport from Nepal. They beat India 2-0 to grab the country’s first ever international

championship trophy in the soccer history. They were feted at home and abroad. At home the president received them and abroad he sent some of the lawmakers to Nepal to provide the sportsmen with a morale support. Those living in Kabul, and elsewhere in the country remember well that it was something which couldn’t be imagined a few years back. What they remember is bloodshed, fear and ethnic rifts. But now they are giving way and things are taking an impressive turnabout. Motorists, bikers and pedestrians took out to the streets and roads while cheering,

blowing horns and waving Afghan flags throughout the night. They danced in the streets of Kabul and they danced in the markets of Kandahar throughout Thursday. It was a historic win for two reasons. One reason is that they won it from India—the 2-time winner of this trophy. The second reason is that it was the first ever win that broke the silence created by terror and militancy and brought people out to the streets in thousands. It was indeed a momentous win and achievement. Our sportsmen started off their journey with meager resources and spread over the horizon of South Asia by winning this trophy. For a team like ours, facing too many challenges, lack of playgrounds, and other facilities, it was like seizing the moon by the teeth. But they did it and did it heroically. Whatever is given to them in moral and financial support is less than what they gave to this nation, indeed.