Afghanistan Football Federation President Karim Keramuddin (C) holds the trophy after the Afghanistan Football Federation received the FIFA Fair Play award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich January 13, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS
ZURICH: The Afghanistan Football Federation won the 2013 FIFA Fair Play award at the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich, after hosting their first international match at home, a friendly against Pakistan, for 10 years in August.
Afghanistan had defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the friendly match played on August 20, 2013.
Afghanistan, ranked at 139th in the world just above Pakistan, gave home fans little to worry about, dominating the game from the kick-off and going three goals ahead mid-way through the second half.
After scoring two goals in the first half, Afghan striker Mohammad Maroof sealed victory with the third goal in the second.
The match was promoted as a symbol of football’s ability to foster peace and unite countries in a shared love of sport, but the result was celebrated by many Afghans as a sweet victory over an old and bitter adversity.
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A fixed decision! Must be a gift to Afghanistan before 2014 exit for bearing western power and selling out their resources.....
Afghan team won the fair play reward. Congratulations to all Afghans! I hope the Afghan football team bring more trophies to my beloved country in future. Long life Afghanistan and long live all Afghans who are loyal to Afghanistan and its people.
I can not control my tears, Afghanistan will achieve more trophies and award in future thanks to all Afghans, long life to my country.
Afghan team won the fair play reward. Congratulation to all Afghanistan people. Ehsan
Great to see FIFA paid attention to Afghan Football. They have been really excellent and showed alot on the pitch to keep their war suffered people happy. With having limited resources, lack of good coaching, lack of security and weak financially they still showed hunger and desire to win matches specially by beating Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India and the biggest achievement of the history for them was winning SAFF championship. To award the FIFA fair play award will only encourage them to improve and become the icon of peace for the country. As an Afghan I am so thankful of FIFA and proud of my team.
We trust in afghan boys and girls abilities, If peace be in Afghanistan they are the best.
@ Truth
AFP reported this not ET. Afghanistan is ranked 140 and Pakistan 172. AFP didn't bother with the details.
They deserve it
Yayyy wonderful day for my beloved country :)
Oh God what a negative reporting from ET. It was not only playing with Pakistan that won Afghanistan the award but also the hard work done at promoting football at the grassroot level such as the APL ( Afghan premier league ), making football pitches and also the winning of SAFF cup.