‘Runaway kids’ clinch bronze for Pakistan in Rio

[Devil Soul]

Street Child World Cup: ‘Runaway kids’ clinch bronze for Pakistan in Rio
By Natasha Raheel
Published: April 7, 2014

KARACHI: “Play with integrity, play with courage, you are playing for Pakistan.”

This was coach Abdul Rashid’s advice to Pakistan’s striker Aurangzeb Baba right after the side had confirmed a place in the quarter-finals of the Street Child World Cup (SCWC) 2014.

Team Pakistan appears to have taken the advice to heart as they defeated the US 3-2 on penalty kicks to clinch the SCWC 2014 bronze medal on Sunday.

“Even winning the bronze medal is alright for us,” Azad Foundation official Itfan Maqbool, who is with the team, told The Express Tribune. “We are happy… we’re congratulating each other anyway.”

“Playing the final would’ve been amazing, but may be Allah has a better plan for us. Maybe it is for the best. We know that our team played well,” he said.

The team began their 14-and-a-half-hour journey home after the closing ceremony at 2:30am in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They will reach Karachi 4:30am on Tuesday.

Maqbool said the players are looking forward to home after the exciting experience in Brazil. He added that so far the team only knows that they have played well and that people are noticing them.

“Right now the children have no idea of what’s going on outside the tournament,” said Maqbool. “They understand that people in Pakistan are supporting them but so far they are taking everything in slowly. They are absorbing everything that’s coming their way.”

The nine-member squad for Pakistan had a glorious run in the seven-a-side tournament before a heart-breaking defeat at the hands of Burundi in the semifinal. The team began its campaign with a bang, defeating arch-rivals and defending champions India 13-0, Kenya 2-0 and Mauritius 3-0 to top Group Three. Later they won the quarter-final against Philippines 3-2 on penalty-kicks.

The team remained undefeated in the tournament till Burundi edged past them 4-3 in the semi-final. Burundi, however, lost the final to Tanzania 3-1.

But the Pakistani side has recovered from the defeat quickly, instead of giving up on their dream.

“These children will realise what they have done later, probably once they get back home,” said Maqbool.

Hoping to catch the government’s eye

Team Pakistan’s performance in the SCWC is a milestone, and an eye-opener in many ways. The most important message of the event was to generate the government interest about the conditions of the children on the streets.

“This performance by our team is historic,” said Maqbool.

“Earlier, the government and other stakeholders wouldn’t pay attention to their issues but now this will compel them to take notice. These children have so much potential. Even in football, our children have natural talent; all they needed was to learn the rules and regulations. This achievement of theirs is a true triumph for the street children of Pakistan.”

He added that different NGOs have been demanding a system for shelters for these children.

“The core issue is that the policy should be made. We don’t have any system to notify the government about these children at the moment,” said Maqbool.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.

 

[Durrak]

Congratulations to the kids. .

 

[Devil Soul]

Garlands, dhols, entire neighbourhoods itching to welcome bronze-winning street footballers home
By Natasha Raheel
Published: April 7, 2014

Pakistani players pose for photographers before the match against India, during the second edition of the Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 1, 2014. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

KARACHI: “I’m glad that Meher didn’t listen to me a lot,” recalls a jubilant Aziza, mother of the teenaged Meher Ali just hours before he is set to return to his home in Ibrahim Hyderi with a bronze-medal that he and the rest of the Pakistani team had earned at the Street Child World Cup that ended in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

“I had always stopped him from going outside too much, but he would just sneak out of the house to play football. I’m happy that he didn’t listen to me,” she says, adding that all she wants to do now is just hold Meher.

Son of a fisherman in Baloch para area of Ibrahim Hyderi, Meher made a name for himself when he scored a brace in their match against India in Rio. Though Pakistan went on to rout their traditional rivals 13-0, Meher had an instant impact.

“We are poor people, we don’t have much, but Meher has made me so proud. People in my Mohalla (neighbourhood) are just walking up to me and congratulating me. I’m just amazed that Meher has made so many people proud. My son has brought joy to so many people,” a teary eyed Aziza said.

“I couldn’t stop crying when I saw Meher on the television,” Aziza tells The Express Tribune. “I never knew that my son would become so popular. I saw his picture on the television and I couldn’t believe that it was Meher. I’m happy and I’m crying at the same time.”

Recalling the early exploits of Meher, before he showed his skills in Rio, Aziza says her son always wanted to go to Brazil and play. “When he was very young, he used to say that he will go to Brazil to play football someday, and I’m amazed at how everything worked out for him.”

Aziza adds that all her son ever did was either to into the sea to fish or play football. “Hopefully he’ll get to play more football, because going into the sea is always dangerous.”

When Meher returns early on Tuesday, Ibrahim Hyderi is expected to celebrate his homecoming. Neighbours have arranged garlands. “My neighbours have also arranged for dhols. They want Meher to feel proud as well. Some of them are also distributing Mithai (sweets) in our area to celebrate the team’s home-coming.”

Across town in Manghopir, Meher’s fellow player Rajab Ali too can look forward to meeting his excited family. Rajab’s elder brother Qurban Ali says that he is overwhelmed by Rajab’s achievement.

“Obviously we are very happy, but it’s still a shock. Rajab has always loved to play football.”

About the arrangements they have made to welcome him home, Qurban says “We are all very excited about his return to home. Our friends have brought a bus so that the whole neighborhood can go and welcome him at the airport.”

The teenagers, who endured a hard time to just get to Rio, let alone play in the tournament, have managed to capture the hearts and imagination of the nation. Though they lost out in the semi-final against Burundi, they managed to win against the US in the play-off for the third place and earned a bronze medal.