Festivity in the air: Making headlines for the right reasons
Despite the rainy weather, the festival in Quetta concluded on time amid a huge crowd of sports lovers.
As many as 33 football clubs participated in the football tournament, one of the 22 games played in the Sports Festival held in Quetta. PHOTO: COURTESY MAZHER ALI CHANDIO
QUETTA:
The valley that usually makes headlines for bombing, sectarian killing and ethnic violence buzzed with activity and was in the spotlight for the right reasons, as many football teams gathered to show their talent in the Sports Festival organized by the Balochistan Government in Quetta.
Despite the rainy weather that hampered several matches of football and cricket, the festival concluded on time amid a huge crowd of sports lovers.
“Balochistan always makes headlines in the media for bad things happening here. The Sports Festival helped us send a positive message that the situation is not as terrible as it is made out to be,” said Mujeeb Ur Rehman Mohammed Hasni, Provincial Minister for Sports and Cultural.
As many as 33 football clubs from different parts of the province participated in the football tournament, one of the 22 games played in the Sports Festival held from March 22 to 29, 2014 in Quetta. This was the biggest sports event held in the provincial capital after the National Games 2004. Naushki Football Club defeated Jaffarabad and won the title.
Most of the games were organized in the Nawab Nauroz Sports Complex. However, football matches were held in the Quetta Cantt, military garrison.
“There was a 99 per cent participation in the football tournament solely across the province. It indicates the keen interest of people in this game,” said Qazi Jalal, football coach of Quetta club. The stadium was packed with football fans from Quetta and nearby districts. Sportsmen of every district were given an opportunity to demonstrate their talent in the provincial capital to attract the attention of the coaches who may in due course recommend them for provincial or national teams.
“Organizers had to take tough decisions to drop some teams so that the tournament ends in accordance with the given schedule,” said Qazi. His team was defeated in the semifinal.
Around 2,200 players across Balochistan took part in different games including athletics, badminton, basketball, bodybuilding, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, karate, boxing, chess, rifle shooting, squash, table tennis, shooting ball, volleyball, weightlifting and water sports.
Mohammed Irfan who represented Pakistan’s under-17 football team in India said the Sports Festival had been a great opportunity to see the talent in Balochistan. “It is very encouraging. Such events will improve the quality of sports in the province,” he told The Express Tribune. He added that people here had forgotten dozens of sports legends like Juma Khan, Mir Ghaus Buksh Bizenjo, Qayyum Changezi, Akbar Baloch and Ayub.
The Festival may thus help revive those good days.
Stringent security measures were put in place with huge deployment of police, Balochistan Levies, paramilitary troops, Frontier Corps (FC) and Pakistan Army.
“Besides security forces, around 1,700 police personnel were deployed during the week-long sports festival,” said a Capital City Police Officer.
However, sports lovers argued that there was no need of foolproof security as there is no chance of sports events being targeted in Balochistan. When asked why such events were not being held in Quetta, Irfan said he does not know, but added that not a single team was attacked in Balochistan. “Miscreants are also football fans,” he quipped.
“Our top politicians were very good footballers,” said Qazi, adding that the main issue why the game is not getting due attention is lack of funding and of better playgrounds. “Only cricket is paid attention in this country. There would be thousands of fans in even ordinary football matches if we only have good football grounds and comfortable stadium.”
Another senior football coach Niaz Baloch said that there are four players in the national football team who hail from Balochistan. “Our male and female footballers are doing well in the game,” he added.
Baloch said that it would have been better if the Sports Festival was held in April after the rainy weather was over. “Most of the matches were adversely affected due to the rain,” he told The Express Tribune.
The Provincial Government also observed Media Day, Martyrs’ Day, Artists’ Day, Teachers ‘Day and Special Children’s Day during the festival.
The Chief Minister of the province said that the sports festival is being held while Balochistan is going through a difficult situation. “Such healthy activities will help us to restore peace and divert the attention of youth towards sports,” he told The Express Tribune.
“At least we have been provided with an opportunity to cheer and see some healthy activities,” said Imran Ahmed, a spectator at the Nawab Akbar Bugti Cricket Stadium. “People should know that Balochistan has a lot to offer besides bombing and killings.”
Governor Balochistan Mohammed Khan Achakzai was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. He praised the government for organizing this mega sports event.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2014.
The valley that usually makes headlines for bombing, sectarian killing and ethnic violence buzzed with activity and was in the spotlight for the right reasons, as many football teams gathered to show their talent in the Sports Festival organized by the Balochistan Government in Quetta.
Despite the rainy weather that hampered several matches of football and cricket, the festival concluded on time amid a huge crowd of sports lovers.
“Balochistan always makes headlines in the media for bad things happening here. The Sports Festival helped us send a positive message that the situation is not as terrible as it is made out to be,” said Mujeeb Ur Rehman Mohammed Hasni, Provincial Minister for Sports and Cultural.
As many as 33 football clubs from different parts of the province participated in the football tournament, one of the 22 games played in the Sports Festival held from March 22 to 29, 2014 in Quetta. This was the biggest sports event held in the provincial capital after the National Games 2004. Naushki Football Club defeated Jaffarabad and won the title.
Most of the games were organized in the Nawab Nauroz Sports Complex. However, football matches were held in the Quetta Cantt, military garrison.
“There was a 99 per cent participation in the football tournament solely across the province. It indicates the keen interest of people in this game,” said Qazi Jalal, football coach of Quetta club. The stadium was packed with football fans from Quetta and nearby districts. Sportsmen of every district were given an opportunity to demonstrate their talent in the provincial capital to attract the attention of the coaches who may in due course recommend them for provincial or national teams.
“Organizers had to take tough decisions to drop some teams so that the tournament ends in accordance with the given schedule,” said Qazi. His team was defeated in the semifinal.
Around 2,200 players across Balochistan took part in different games including athletics, badminton, basketball, bodybuilding, cricket, cycling, football, hockey, karate, boxing, chess, rifle shooting, squash, table tennis, shooting ball, volleyball, weightlifting and water sports.
Mohammed Irfan who represented Pakistan’s under-17 football team in India said the Sports Festival had been a great opportunity to see the talent in Balochistan. “It is very encouraging. Such events will improve the quality of sports in the province,” he told The Express Tribune. He added that people here had forgotten dozens of sports legends like Juma Khan, Mir Ghaus Buksh Bizenjo, Qayyum Changezi, Akbar Baloch and Ayub.
The Festival may thus help revive those good days.
Stringent security measures were put in place with huge deployment of police, Balochistan Levies, paramilitary troops, Frontier Corps (FC) and Pakistan Army.
“Besides security forces, around 1,700 police personnel were deployed during the week-long sports festival,” said a Capital City Police Officer.
However, sports lovers argued that there was no need of foolproof security as there is no chance of sports events being targeted in Balochistan. When asked why such events were not being held in Quetta, Irfan said he does not know, but added that not a single team was attacked in Balochistan. “Miscreants are also football fans,” he quipped.
“Our top politicians were very good footballers,” said Qazi, adding that the main issue why the game is not getting due attention is lack of funding and of better playgrounds. “Only cricket is paid attention in this country. There would be thousands of fans in even ordinary football matches if we only have good football grounds and comfortable stadium.”
Another senior football coach Niaz Baloch said that there are four players in the national football team who hail from Balochistan. “Our male and female footballers are doing well in the game,” he added.
Baloch said that it would have been better if the Sports Festival was held in April after the rainy weather was over. “Most of the matches were adversely affected due to the rain,” he told The Express Tribune.
The Provincial Government also observed Media Day, Martyrs’ Day, Artists’ Day, Teachers ‘Day and Special Children’s Day during the festival.
The Chief Minister of the province said that the sports festival is being held while Balochistan is going through a difficult situation. “Such healthy activities will help us to restore peace and divert the attention of youth towards sports,” he told The Express Tribune.
“At least we have been provided with an opportunity to cheer and see some healthy activities,” said Imran Ahmed, a spectator at the Nawab Akbar Bugti Cricket Stadium. “People should know that Balochistan has a lot to offer besides bombing and killings.”
Governor Balochistan Mohammed Khan Achakzai was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. He praised the government for organizing this mega sports event.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2014.