Street footballers arrive at the Sindh assembly building to attend a reception. PHOTO: AFP
Fifteen-year-old Abdul Raziq, Pakistan’s key striker in the Street Child World Cup 2014, has not had time to catch his breath after a fourteen and a half hour flight from Rio de Janeiro to Karachi.
“This all seems like a dream,” Raziq said, speaking with The Express Tribune after his team’s return from Rio, their bronze medals in hand after defeating the US 3-2 on Sunday.
Airport officials ferried Raziq and eight other team members, coach Abdul Rashid and Azad Foundation official Itfan Maqbool through the domestic arrivals gate, rather than the international gates, in order to make it past a crush of politicians, representatives and workers of political parties, members of sports organisations and excited supporters.
The boys’ families tried to catch a glimpse of them at the airport. “I just want to hold my son now,” said Aziza, mother of team member Meher Ali. “My elder son saw Meher at the airport, but I haven’t seen him yet,” she fretted. “I’m a little worried for him as well, he looked uncomfortable on TV.”
Raziq, who scored eight goals against defending champions India, says the team miss the friends they made during the tournament in Brazil but are overwhelmed by the welcome they have received at home.
“We never thought we’d come back to this,” Raziq said. “We haven’t slept yet, we’ve been meeting people and we are on our way to give a television interview now.” Around 230 children from 19 countries participated in the tournament, where Team Pakistan competed for the first time and made it to the semi-finals.
The team paid a visit to the Sindh Assembly where Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and members of the provincial assembly warmly welcomed them. Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced a prize of Rs200,000 for each team player on behalf of the Sindh government. The information minister also said the Karachi Municipal Corporation would set up a football stadium for the players.
Minister for Education Nisar Ahmed said the provincial education department would provide free education to the children. Khuhro’s statement prompted PTI MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman to announce a price of Rs10,000 to each player. Minister for Youth Affairs Mumtaz Hussain Jakhrani also announced an additional amount of Rs500,000 for the team.
“I never thought I’ll ever see what’s inside the assembly, or what happens there,” Raziq said about his visit. “I had never seen so many big people like that before,” he exclaimed. Following lunch at a local hotel, the team met with actor Shaan and singer Hadiqa Kiyani.
The boys then travelled to Bilawal House to meet PPP patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who promised a ‘surprise’ for the young players. While he announced a prize of Rs100,000 for each player, Bilawal revealed that he has invited football legend Diego Maradona to visit Pakistan and promote football in the country.
Additionally, PPP MNA Faryarl Talpur has announced Rs100,000 for each player. Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Sherry Rehman, Qadir Patel, Sharmila Faruqui and others were also present on the occasion.
Azad Foundation official Amjad Rasul pointed out that the boys maintained their cool throughout their meetings. “They seem to have grown up, very quickly,” he said. “Their reaction to the attention they are getting is just amazing. Instead of letting it get to their heads, they are very humble about it all.”
The team’s coach said it was heartening to see the support the boys had; members of the Sindh Assembly floated a bill during the team’s visit to improve the rights of street children in Pakistan.
“I hope all of this is just as good as it seems,” said Meher Ali’s mother. “You see, my son is not educated and he does not go to school. I hope all of this will make him wise and he will learn from all these big people around him,” she added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2014.
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Pakistan has no resources, no sports funding, and no opportunities but the kind of raw talent that Pakistan has is exceptional. Wether its cricket, kabaddi, soccer, Hockey, wrestling(Kushti), bodybuilding, Sprinting. Pakistan can be one of the best in all of these sports if they are given adequate resources, encouragement and a level playing field. Indians created an overhyped movie about Mikha Singh an overrated sprinter while Pakistanis don't know about Abdul Khaliq, who before Mikha was the best sprinter from Asia and who had defeated 3 Indian sprinters before Mikha, who lost his final race by 0.01 seconds when he was almost at his retirement competing in a 100m sprint while he himself was an athlete of 200m race.
Agree with Rumormonger. The Azadi Foundation should be given the credit. Where were these politicians when the foundation was struggling to send these kids to Brazil?
No news about how Azad Foundation managed this whole affair without any govt support. Now the politicians who could care less for the street kids of Lyari are trying to steal the thunder of the real people who made this success possible.
This achievement of Pakistani Street Kids proves that the future of Pakistan is Bright..
On learning of the SCWC in Brazil and Pakistan children's participation and victory, it was all "shock and awe" for me. What immense and profound talent Karachi Shareef has. That's why we must have a SCB, SHF, SFF, SQF (cricket, hockey, futbol, squash) to take Sindh forward. Master Meher Ali's mother is well advised not to be impressed by these big people and as for learning from them.......Lyari will be next to Thar. Salams