KHYBER
Organizing football tournaments in Landi Kotal not only provide lonely entertainment opportunities to the tribesmen but also play a key role to establish durable peace in the area however the organizers complain of lack of facilities in the sports ground.
Under the banner of Khyber Sports Club, the soccer event has been regularly organized on the government high school grounds for the last forty years and football teams from across the country participate in it.
Chairman Khyber Sports Club, Mirajuddin Shinwari said that the football tournament opens on 14 August every year and continues for one and half months.
He added that players of national and international fame take part in the event and exhibit the best players of their talent.
However he said that short of basic facilities like lack of pavilion and potable water, absence of grass in the ground and deficiency of changing rooms for the players suffer the sports activities.
Commenting on the repentant attitude of the sports department and the parliamentarians of the constituency he said that a number of applications have been filed with the concerned to facilitate them but to in avail.
By setting up the sports event, we strive to motivate the tribal youth to healthy activities besides entertain thousands of locals for months and encourage durable peace in the area, he opined.
Bilal Afridi, a star player and Captain of Zakria football team said that it is the historical sport event that offers an opportunity to local players to display their talent.
Contrary to the international football regulations, they are compelled to play on unleveled and sandy ground that sometimes causes serious injuries to them, he remarked.
Afridi maintained that Landi Kotal is enriched with soccer talent and a number of players have been representing the country in the world but ironically nonappearance of sports department patronage wastes new rising talent in the game.
They alleged the sports department for its zero performance in the area.
When Director General Sports, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tashfeen Haidar was contacted on the matter he said that previously the department supported the sports event and will continue their backing to them keeping in view their available resources.
We will set up a week-long training camp in Peshawar for the ten new talents and best players of the tournament and if they are found competent enough, they will be certainly encouraged and patronized to enhance their game and to represent the province and the country in international football competitions.
