Afghanistan footballers seek ‘home’ comfort

While most footballers nurse the dream of playing for their nation, players from Afghanistan have a different desire — to play at least once on their home turf.

Afghanistan have put up an impressive show in the ongoing SAFF Cup tournament here, but most of their players are born and brought up in their adoptive countries. Even their preparatory camps are held in overseas land due to security reasons. For the SAFF Cup, the defending champions underwent training at Qatar before heading to India.

“It is always a pain and disappointment not to play in our own country. Everytime something is decided, there are security issues. As a team, I think no one has played in our country, on our home turf. It is a terrible feeling,” reveals Afghanistan captain Faysal Shayesteh.

Shayesteh was born and brought up in Holland and shifted to Thailand after a brief stint. The rest belong to Denmark, Norway, Holland, and even USA, and most of them ply their trade in Germany.

Shayesteh, however, says that the team are a “compact unit” despite their different backgrounds and cultures. “We are doing fine as a team. May be the hope of playing in Afghanistan is motivating us. There is a unity in the team despite the different backgrounds that we are come from,” the captain said.

“If we win the tournament that would be the best gift for our countrymen. We hope one day there would be peace,” he added. Holders Afghanistan have been in top form here so far. They have scored 11 goals in their three consecutive wins.