Express News screengrab of the people present at the Jinnah International Airport to welcome the young heroes home.
For their reception, not only their families were present but also ministers, representatives and workers of political parties as well as sports and football organisations.
People also danced at the airport to the thuds of the drums to welcome the young heroes home.
The nine-member squad for Pakistan had a glorious run in the seven-a-side tournament before a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of Burundi in the semifinal.
For security reasons, the airport administration used the domestic gate instead of the international one for the children to leave the airport to avoid any untoward situation.
View a slideshow on the Street Child World Cup here.
Appreciation
Sindh Minister for Culture Sharmila Farooqi, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Rubina Saadat Qaimkhani and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Khawaja Izharul Hassan were also present to welcome the young guns and highly appreciated the efforts of these children.
Qaimkhani told the Express News that these children have proven that they are not lesser than anyone else irrespective of whatever problems and hindrances they might be facing.
MQM MPA Hassan, while speaking to the Express News, requested the government to reward these kids in order to boost their confidence.
Capturing hearts
The teenagers, who endured a hard time to just get to Rio, let alone play in the tournament, have managed to capture the hearts and imagination of the nation. Though they lost out in the semi-final against Burundi, they managed to win against the US in the play-off for the third place and earned a bronze medal.
The team began its campaign with a bang, defeating arch-rivals and defending champions India 13-0, Kenya 2-0 and Mauritius 3-0 to top Group Three. Later they won the quarter-final against Philippines 3-2 on penalty-kicks.
COMMENTS (20)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714029027-0/Tribune-Collage-Feature-Images-(11)1714029027-0-270x192.webp)
1714027629-0/Ranbirtransformation-(1)1714027629-0-270x192.webp){kind=spacer}
and corruption party thugs stage spectacles of welcoming the players as if they have anything to do with their performance. During corruption party rule numerous playgrounds and parks have been gobbled up by land mafia
@imran bhatt: ccricket is not proper sport
@Mwaqar: where was he before media highlighted them? btw how many common people like these kids were invited at Mohenjodaro for cultural musical night? sad to see corores of rupees were spent on that musical evening while they handed out mere peanuts (1 lac for each kid) to these deserving kids :)
All credit goes to Azad Foundation who made this possible. We are proud of you.
I wish there were Street Child World Cup for cricket as well.
@hmm: Plz update your knowledge about News.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has a surprise for Pakistani Street Children Football team
http://pukhtunkhwatimes.blogspot.com/2014/04/bilawal-bhutto-zardari-has-surprise-for.html
What are the political parties doing at the airport? They look like aliens out of outer space. They have no connection with ordinary people of Pakistan.
@Wiki: Stop crying PTI PTI over every non-issue.
Its photo opportunity, nothing will happen concrete to support football in Pakistan except cricket!
What should be highlighted is the government's pathetic response when the team was getting ready to leave for the event..........now that they return as heroes, the government wants to get into the picture.
We should replace this wired cricket with football in Pak and convert all cricket places into football places as Pak is densely populated, we cant afford 14 people on field for whole day and no turn for other. Fast sports really match with dense population , Look Brazil what a great they did in football than y we r after cricket all the time in Pakistan?
@Wiki:
seriously? nobody cares about PTI PPP PMLN - they're all the same! P.S I'm a PTI supporter.
They did really well.They deserve more.
thanks for making the nation proud....
All these so called BIG GUNS are at the Airport for Photo Session, they are not interested in the future of these kids.... after few days these kids will be forgotten & we will be watching a report on TV channels on the same....
PTI MPA Khurram Zaman was also present. Pls mention all who were there if you are highlighting political parties.
Pak should invest in football otherwise cricket keep destroying to our sports culture and youth
In fact this is talent when you have done something your own. My people do not look at Government/Political Parties/NGOs etc just do something from your own. Love you guys...
Excellent job guys!! there is SO much untapped talent in our country! We can definitely improve our international football ranking if we give our youngsters the opportunities! the PFA and govt of Pakistan should seriously consider investing in foootball...Kudos to the 9 young guns !
Really proud of you guys! As for Govt officials, well they didn't care about them until media highlighted these kids, even now they're more interested in personal PR than to do anything meaningful for these underprivileged players & kids alike them. Pakistan has immense potential, unfortunately our politicians aren't sincere with us, such a pity.