KABUL– Joyful Hashmatullah, a resident in Kabul, called upon his fellow Afghans to enter the football stadium and cheer for their favorite teams and players.

“As a spectator I am happy today to watch the football match in a peaceful environment in Kabul,” said the 27-year-old young man.

The Afghan Premier League competitions began on Friday, among football teams from various provinces, the first time that such football tournament is being held in war-torn Afghanistan, since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul on Aug 15, and formation of a caretaker government.

“It is a matter of pleasure for all of us that such a tournament is being held, following political change and induction of new government in a peaceful atmosphere,” Arjumand Lali, an organiser of the tournament, said.

Lali believed that sport competitions, especially football, could bring happiness and harmony among the war-weary Afghans, and he called upon Afghans to attend the matches and encourage the footballers with applause.

The eight-day competition this year is titled “Peace Tournament.” However, the only sponsor to support the football competition for the premier league this year is the Football Federation of Afghanistan, said Lali.

“I am a fan of the Miwand Atalan team in the tournament, and hope it can win the game against the Shaheen Asmaee team,” Mohammad Khalid said.

Coming from the southern Kandahar province to watch the football match, Khalid wished to see more spectators at the stadium.

No Afghan women or girls was among the spectators to cheer up their favorite teams.

“I want to see more and more fans at the stadium to encourage the players,” football player, Sanahullah Mohmand, said.

About 200 onlookers and football fans were inside the stadium to watch the competition on Sunday. However, Mohmand expressed disappointment over the number of spectators, saying, he wanted thousands of people to watch the game.

The Afghan Premier League is taking place amid political uncertainty, poverty and economic woes, as the new Taliban administration has yet to win recognition from the international community, and the freezing of 10 billion U.S. dollars of Kabul’s assets by the United States.

Mohammad Nawak, spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Olympic Committee, assured that the new government would continue to support sports and athletes in all fields.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK