Female football players face strong criticism

Players complain of societal nonacceptance despite their involvement in a healthy sport

KARACHI:

The young female football players of Lyari have been denied to practice in a newly developed ground located near Lyari General Hospital (LGH).

"Larkyan mahool kharab kerti hen [girls spoil the environment]," said a young football player 'A'. "How we can spoil it? We just want to play," she added. Narrating the story, 'A' told The Express Tribune that her fellow players along with a coach had been practicing in the ground for the last two weeks.

"It is a better ground in the vicinity," she said. But, she added, a man who looks after the ground stopped us playing in the ground. 'A' said that when she and her fellow players enquired about the reason. "His reply was 'larkya mahool kharab kerti hen," she said.

'Abdul Ghani Panjgori Futsal and Volleyball court' is located in the main ground opposite to the LGH on Tannery Road near notorious area 'Dubai Chowk' known as stronghold of Baba Ladhla. The court was inaugurated by Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab on September 11.

The players also told The Express Tribune that they used to practice in the premises of Government Boys Secondary School located at Ahmed Shah Bukhari Road. "The school's doors were closed for us on Saturday," another player 'S' said. "Where should we go?" she questioned. "Why these men are afraid of young and innocent girls," she questioned. Interestingly, around half a dozen drug addicts were found outside the gate of newly developed court for the young players of the area.

"Check the ground all the day and especially after sunset and you will find dozens of men taking drugs without any fear," 'A' said. "We are involved in healthy activities," she said. "The drug addicts spoil the society not the female players." 'S' said that majority of girls belong to the same neighbourhood, including the Phool Patti Lane. She said that there was not a single ground left for girls to play any sports.

"We cannot play in the streets. We do not have any space but we dare to play in along with boys," 'A' said. During the inaugural ceremony, some posters of football players were displayed at the wall of the ground. Some of they having female players were torn up by 'unknown people'.

"We ask these men about the posters and their reply was strange," 'A' said, adding that displaying the posters of female players are also being criticised. It is pertinent to mention here that it was the same ground where notorious gangster Arshad Pappoo was brutally killed.