What’s more fascinating is that the team comprises four Russian players, notwithstanding the tumultuous past the two countries have shared.
It is fascinating how sport bridges the gap between people, facilitates relationship when all other avenues come a cropper.
Little did four-year-old Zohib Islam understand when his family fled a war-torn Afghanistan in 1995 — facing an insurgency threat from the Taliban — and settled down in Karachi. “We just left. No one asked why. I was too small to understand anything,” Zohib says, adding that all he can recall are a few TV clips of people dying.
With very few options to pursue, Zohib’s father, a footballer, introduced him and his three brothers to the game. For them, it was a way to forget the pain then and a reason to live now. Lack of facilities in his homeland means that Zohib still lives in Karachi but the 19-year-old has since shown that football isn’t just a pastime for him.
Zohib plays professional football for Kabul Bank FC and has represented his country in several international matches — most recently in the South Asian Games where Afghanistan reached the final. This is the story of most of the Kabul Bank players, who are in the city on an invitation courtesy the Indo-Afghan Friendship Society.
“Life is very difficult in Afghanistan and football is a luxury for most. There is just one ground in Kabul, which is the best in the country. The Taliban has destroyed all the grounds,” Kabul Bank coach Omed says. “After our ban ended in 2003 (started in 1984) the football culture is slowly gathering pace.” Not only did they manage to remain unbeaten during the three matches they played during this tour (2-2 vs Air India, 1-0 vs RCF and 4-0 vs Mumbai United), they impressed one and all with excellent football skills.
What’s more fascinating is that the team comprises four Russian players, notwithstanding the tumultuous past the two countries have shared. “We don’t believe in keeping grudges. The Russians have helped us a lot in developing football in the region,” says Omed, the former Afghan international.
Zohib is hoping his country makes it big in football but knows the road to recovery will be full of hurdles. Right now, the centre-back secretly longs for an offer from an I-League team. “Who wouldn’t want to play in India? Of course, if I get an offer I will come here,” he says.
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