African footballers star at local football tourney

Minister lauds sports facilities in the area

KARACHI:

Four African footballers took to the field on Sunday to play for local club FC Karachi in the Third Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup Football Tournament. Three of the footballers are from Nigeria while the fourth is from Cameroon.

The match between FC Karachi and the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) at the Naya Nazimabad Football Stadium ended in a draw, with both teams scoring once. The footballers from Nigeria include Benjamin and Francis while the Cameroonian national is Bassong. The footballers expressed satisfaction with their stay in Karachi, and the hospitality of the locals. "We are very happy to play in Pakistan," one of them said.

Earlier, Sindh Local Bodies Minister Nasir Hussain Shah inaugurated the tournament. He was accompanied by sponsors and organisers.

The minister lauded sports facilities in the area and said that the Sindh government was considering having matches of the upcoming Sindh Premier League at the venue.

While talking to media, Shah said that he was happy to see improvement in sports activities across the city, including the participation of international stars. A large number of international cricketers took part in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League, the country's marquee domestic Twenty-20 cricket tournament.

"After Eid, the Sindh Premier League will be an opportunity for the youths of the province to show their talent," he said.

Responding to a question about cricketing relations with neighbours India, the minister urged India to separate politics from sports. "The Indian cricket Team can play in Pakistan whenever they want," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2023.