Football Tournament Organized near Pak Afghan border, an Attempt towards Peace

Landi Kotal:The brutally militant activities news like killing, kidnapping torturing abusing are publishing in the twinkle of eyes on regional National and International electronic and print media. The main objectives behind the activities to present a bad image of tribal region and the people. The local tribal journalists and local tribal authorities deliberately ignored the globe about on going peace events take place in the tribal areas. The tribal journalists rapidly cover war on terror news but it is states with sorry that they haven’t take interest to highlight the peace events.

Football the most reputed and devoted game of the western countries also playing in tribal areas of Pakistan. The tribal take too much interest in the game have a high valued among different path of people even the militants also sponsored their own team. The militants not only respect sports event but also sponsored their own team. Similarly Bara Eleven based militant sponsored team had reached at final got victory on host team during all Khyber Agency district football tournament was held in tehsil Landi Kotal Khyber Agency on Tatara ground located near Pak Afghan border. The afghan team were also used to participate in tournament but due to crucial situation haven’t take part in the sport event in recent occasion.

One month long All Khyber agency district football tournament matches were initiated from first June passed various stages of group matches, quarter final, and semi final and final match won by Bara football team sponsored by Lashkar-e Islam banned militant group enjoyed the victory over the host team by one goal. The captain of Bara football team Nisar khan scored first goal in 30 minutes of first half victory, which sustained at the end of the match. Bara militant supported team participated for the first time and become winner of the tournament.

The political authorities had not putted into place all the measures required for an event told by local. Local added the local political administrative committed to keep themselves far away from the sports events engage in accumulating smuggling money on diverse check posts located near Pak Afghan border, The final match was played between Bara eleven-team and Khatir football team which Bara eleven team won by one goal celebrated with the trophy after defeating Khatir in the all Khyber agency district football tournament.

All credited goes to organizers by organized such sports activities in dire prevailing situations of the area. It was for the first time that such major sports events staged near the Pak Afghan border during the era of militancy in tribal areas of Pakistan. Iran Afridi,Wajid Afridi, Yar Rehman Afridi, Noor Haleem Afridi and Irshad Afridi were the tournament organizers. The local tribal appreciated the services of organizers reserved for the football tournament.

Wajid Ali tournament organizer said “We are providing background for tribal people to debate on day played matches instead of militants activities aim to convert their mind towards peace.”

Tournament Organizer Yar Rehman Afridi said, “Our mission to organize sports activities to engage youth so they can polish and enhance their potentialities enable to participate in National and International sports events whenever to be held”.

Iran Afridi President of Tatara Spot committee told to all voices member, "there is need to be constructed sport stadium for the tribal people in tehsil Landi kotal.In this regard too many efforts have been brought by local tribal to construct the sport stadium but the tribal administrative are not interested to take and provide land for the sport stadium."