Grassroots Football Festival Held in Kabul with 200 Athletes

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- A grassroots football festival was held in Kabul on Wednesday with the participation of 200 athletes from 10 teams representing the central region, the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports said in a statement.

The event was organized by the Afghanistan Football Federation in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation and featured children and youths from junior and youth age categories over a single day.

The festival, held under the theme "Encouraging children and youth to play football," aimed to identify and select talented players for youth national teams, develop grassroots sports and encourage children and youth to take up football within Islamic principles. It received a warm welcome from participants.

At the opening ceremony, Mawlawi Abdul Nasir Hashimi, head of administration and finance at the directorate, highlighted the importance of sport in the healthy development of the younger generation.

He stressed the value of conducting sporting activities within Islamic principles and described Afghan athletes as a source of national pride.

Hashimi also underscored the role of sport in strengthening solidarity, discipline and physical and mental wellbeing.