Bend it like Beckham: Street children team puts its best foot forward

Qayyum Stadium plays host to match between street children and local school team.

PESHAWAR:

The city’s Qayyum Stadium was abuzz with excitement and anticipation on Saturday as the street children football team and a local school played an enthralling match much to the delight of spectators.

The street children football team is on a tour of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) after an awe-inspiring performance in the Street Children Football World Cup held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last month.

Hundreds of spectators comprising school students, government officials and sportsmen came to the stadium to watch what promised to be a thrilling match in a city where sport events have unfortunately became a rarity.

Goal!

The game, which went on for 30 minutes, saw the football team of City School No1 put up a tough fight against the street children football team.

Subsequently, the street children team won the match after scoring two goals while the City School team scored one. Abdul Samad and Rehman scored for the street children team while City School’s Samad Ali scored on behalf of his team.

At the end of the game, students from various local schools along with the players performed the traditional Attan dance for spectators.

The theme song for the Football World Cup 2014, which is to begin on June 12, was also played at the stadium.

Strict security measures were in place for the event and spectators had to go through various checkpoints before entering the stadium. Several spectators gave gifts to the players of the football teams.

Future Ronaldos

Aurangzeb, a member of the street children team, while talking to The Express Tribune, said: “The people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are very hospitable. During our tour of the province, we have been welcomed warmly everywhere we went.”

The teenager, who hails from Karachi, added the match provided them with an opportunity to play on a different type of field.

Aurangzeb further said they came to K-P to spread the message that street children are not ordinary and if opportunities are given to them they can perform at the same level that national players do.

“I want to represent my team in every tournament played on international level so that my country is recognised for something good,” said Aurangzeb.

According to Amjad Rasool, an official with the street children football team, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday awarded Rs1.5 million to the team. He said the team’s meeting with several senior government officials has boosted their morale.

Muhammad Ali, a spectator, said the team is testament to the fact that the children of Pakistan are immensely talented and can make a name in international sports if proper facilities and support were provided to them.

Upcoming games

Minister for Sports Amjid Afridi, who was the chief guest on the occasion, addressed the media following the match and announced that Rs250 million had been allocated for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Games which were scheduled to be held in Peshawar next month. “The government’s promise of setting up sports complexes in all tehsils of the province will be fulfilled soon so that residents have a space for recreation,” claimed Afridi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2014.