Afghanistan? Oh! Taliban, deadly bombing and fighting, opium, drone... dangerous! I even don't want to remember those photos and videos!
Many of us have the similar kind of thinking for more than a decade now about Afghanistan. But wait. When it comes to sports, Afghanistan is going to become powerhouse soon. That's for sure!
Recently, Afghanistan National football team have won the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) championship 2013 held in Kathmandu from August 31 to September. They won the title by defeating South Asian champion India by two goals to no in the final at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu. This was their first major international football title.
By defeating defending champion India, they have also took sweet revenge of their 0-4 goals loss in the final of the previous edition of championship. India have won the title for six times of the nine past editions of the tournament since 1993. Only Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka have won the title once each.
Interesting fact is that until November 2011, Afghanistan was at 207 position according to FIFA ranking. Making great improvements within very short period, they are at no. 132 according the latest ranking of the countries by FIFA ( Maldives - 146, India - 155, Nepal - 163, Bangladesh - 166, Sri Lanka - 168, Pakistan - 170 & Bhutan - 207), clearly at the top position among South Asian countries.
But the result was expected to some extent. After last edition of SAFF championship, the people who have been watching Afghan football closely knew that the team would soon become major football power at least in South Asia. Their was nothing such as luck or surprise and unexpected moves. They won the title by simply playing the game called football. The win was well deserved.
They have that courage and fighting spirit which make them take control of any game until the last moment. It seems that Afghan players are fearless and determined that they need to win every match. That power from inside help them play well balanced and equally disciplined game.
A delegation of 200 personnel including cabinet members of Afghanistan government came to Kathmandu to cheer their players in a special chartered plane. News headlines started coming from all over the world after the match was over. The wild celebrations started all over Afghanistan. The win was something that united all people in Afghanistan. Afghan president Hamid Karzai himself watched the game live on TV and greeted and congratulated the team personally at the airport. The players were welcomed by thousands of fans on their return.
In a country where people have been waking up and going to bed with some kind of killing and destruction daily, the win provided some kind of joy and happy moment and feel proud of their country.
Afghanistan now are on their road to play AFC Asian Cup 2015 to be help in Australia. They will be qualified for that tournament if they win AFC Challenge Cup 2014.
The case is even better in cricket. Starting from Division V in 2008, they played ICC World Twenty20 in 2012 after getting One Day International (ODI) status in 2011. Even with lack of enough resources, the progress they have made is inspirational.
Rohullah Nikpai won bronze medal in Taekwondo for Afghanistan in London 2012 Olympics. Afghanistan players are also making commendable progress in other sports as well. Afghanistan may not be world power in sports soon but they are sure to be regional level in coming years.
WELL DONE AFGHANISTAN!
Image by GoalNepal.com
Many of us have the similar kind of thinking for more than a decade now about Afghanistan. But wait. When it comes to sports, Afghanistan is going to become powerhouse soon. That's for sure!
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| Afghanistan team celebrating the moment after winning SAFF Championship 2013 |
By defeating defending champion India, they have also took sweet revenge of their 0-4 goals loss in the final of the previous edition of championship. India have won the title for six times of the nine past editions of the tournament since 1993. Only Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka have won the title once each.
Interesting fact is that until November 2011, Afghanistan was at 207 position according to FIFA ranking. Making great improvements within very short period, they are at no. 132 according the latest ranking of the countries by FIFA ( Maldives - 146, India - 155, Nepal - 163, Bangladesh - 166, Sri Lanka - 168, Pakistan - 170 & Bhutan - 207), clearly at the top position among South Asian countries.
But the result was expected to some extent. After last edition of SAFF championship, the people who have been watching Afghan football closely knew that the team would soon become major football power at least in South Asia. Their was nothing such as luck or surprise and unexpected moves. They won the title by simply playing the game called football. The win was well deserved.
They have that courage and fighting spirit which make them take control of any game until the last moment. It seems that Afghan players are fearless and determined that they need to win every match. That power from inside help them play well balanced and equally disciplined game.
A delegation of 200 personnel including cabinet members of Afghanistan government came to Kathmandu to cheer their players in a special chartered plane. News headlines started coming from all over the world after the match was over. The wild celebrations started all over Afghanistan. The win was something that united all people in Afghanistan. Afghan president Hamid Karzai himself watched the game live on TV and greeted and congratulated the team personally at the airport. The players were welcomed by thousands of fans on their return.
In a country where people have been waking up and going to bed with some kind of killing and destruction daily, the win provided some kind of joy and happy moment and feel proud of their country.
Afghanistan now are on their road to play AFC Asian Cup 2015 to be help in Australia. They will be qualified for that tournament if they win AFC Challenge Cup 2014.
The case is even better in cricket. Starting from Division V in 2008, they played ICC World Twenty20 in 2012 after getting One Day International (ODI) status in 2011. Even with lack of enough resources, the progress they have made is inspirational.
Rohullah Nikpai won bronze medal in Taekwondo for Afghanistan in London 2012 Olympics. Afghanistan players are also making commendable progress in other sports as well. Afghanistan may not be world power in sports soon but they are sure to be regional level in coming years.
WELL DONE AFGHANISTAN!
Image by GoalNepal.com
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