Afghanistan kicks off its first rugby tournament
by Joe Sinclair
RUGBY: KABUL, Dec 24 (AFP) - Afghanistan kicked off its first
official rugby tournament on Friday, with organisers hoping the game
will one day be as popular as buzkashi, a kind of polo played with the
carcass of a headless goat.
Cricket and football have already gained a strong following, and
regional sporting success has offered a rare glimmer of hope in the
war-wracked country.
But enthusiasts believe Afghans, who have faced decades of conflict
and hardship, are even better suited to the rough and tumble of the
rugby field, which is more akin the national sport buzkashi, without the
need for horses.
Ten teams from four different provinces gathered in central Kabul for
the sevens competition, the first since the Afghan Rugby Federation won
affiliation from the Asian Rugby Football Union last month.
"It's becoming popular and soon it will replace cricket and
football," said Asad Ziar, the ARF's chief executive officer.
"We're a rough, tough people. We're physically set for this game,
which is very energetic and fast.
"It's the new buzkashi. Our people love that game - but we can't
afford to buy a horse for every player."
Rugby - a long way to go
With just 220 players registered with the ARF, rugby has a long way
to go before it can claim to be anywhere near as popular as buzkashi,
football or cricket.
A small group of onlookers stood on the sidelines Friday, many
watching the rugby for the first time.
"What's the name of this game? Why is the ball shaped like that? Why
is the goal so high?" asked 15-year-old Abdul Rassol.
"I like this game, it's fantastic. But where is the goal keeper?"
The UK embassy is sponsoring the two-day tournament and the players
were confident that - given the right support - rugby can take off.
"Afghans love war, that's why they love rugby. The Afghan people are not
scared," said Mohammad Edris, 25, a dentist from Kabul.
Finding coaches - difficult task
"But if we are going to be successful we need support."
Taking a break from refereeing, Steve Brooking, 47, from Bristol,
England, said finding coaches who understand the game is one of the
difficulties. "But rugby has already captured the imagination," said
Brooking, who works for the United Nations and is a technical advisor to
the ARF, which only started up in June.
"The Afghans are big and strong and fit. They're not afraid of
physical contact."
Under the Taliban, who ruled the country from 1996 to 2001, sport was
highly restricted. But Afghanistan's national sports teams have
experienced some success, and rugby will face strong competition from
football and cricket. The country's football team recently reached the
South Asian Football Federation finals, losing to India 4-0. And
Afghanistan won the Asia Cricket Council T20 Cup in Nepal. At the Chaman
Huzuri ground in Kabul, football was being played on all but one of the
dozen or more pitches.
And even the competing rugby teams were kitted out in the football
shirts of popular national and club football teams. "Rugby needs a lot
of power. I thought this is a sport I can play," said Mohammad Yaman
Nazary, 23, his huge frame barely fitting into his Brazilian football
shirt.
"We want rugby to be more popular than football and for our team to
beat the neighbouring countries.
"We want to show the Afghan people that we can be heroes in sport."
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