公開日:2022/06/10 / 最終更新日:2022/06/10

Rugby has built up a small however loyal following in Afghanistan.

Thirty or so teenagers kick up dust as they dash around a discipline in Kabul, targeted intensely as they chase an oval ball in the sweltering heat.

The players are sweating profusely however that has not dampened their enthusiasm for their new-discovered sport: rugby.

Essentially unheard of earlier than the arrival of international forces, the sport has slowly begun to select up steam in Afghanistan, the place football, cricket and physique-building are higher known.

“I like the tackles and passes of rugby,” stated 16-yr-old Lutfullah Kazemi, a excessive-college student who previously had been a football fan. He was drawn to the sport largely because of its novelty, but stuck with it and now desires of a world profession.

In a rustic that has been at warfare for 4 a long time, robust-guy sports activities including body building and taekwondo already have discovered a loyal following.

And thanks to the efforts over a number of years by die-hard followers, consciousness round rugby is growing.

Hopes are rising that Afghanistan may someday put together a strong national staff.

Stephen Brooking, a Briton who advises the Afghan Rugby Federation, is satisfied Afghans have the traits to shine on the sport, notably bodily conditioning.

For the second, the focus is on seven-a-aspect rugby, often known as rugby sevens, as it’s the best way to build expertise and is simpler to know than 15 a facet.

“They have the abilities, they’ve the health, they’ve the strength,” Brooking instructed AFP.

“You get some very huge robust Afghans and I think they could be additionally good at fifteens. Eventually, I am certain Afghanistan will produce a strong 15-a-aspect rugby workforce.”

But circumstances are lower than splendid. Chunks of synthetic grass have been torn from the Kabul pitch, making tackling harmful.

Only touch rugby is played in Kabul, because of the danger of harm on broken artificial pitches.

Only touch rugby, which is much less physical, is allowed. Otherwise the players danger injury, explained Abdul Habib, the trainer of this crew known as “Qahramanan” — which means “champions” in Dari, the principle Afghan language.

Still, the sport is growing. Today, 18 groups have been formed in schools and universities around Kabul and 6 extra in provinces exterior the capital, said Aref Wardak, the rugby federation’s spokesman.

Three youth and grownup championships are purported to be created inside months, and a girls’s group has even been began in Kabul with the hope of others coming soon.

– ‘Where’s the objective?’ –

Afghanistan is not but a member of the World Rugby governing body, however has obtained help from the Asian federation, artificial turf football field which helps it practice referees and coaches.

The nationwide sevens facet, made up of Afghan expatriates, participated in the Asian Games in Indonesia final year, narrowly lacking out on the quarter finals.

To construct a future for rugby, the federation is specializing in youth, beginning within the schools.

“We should first convince teachers there’s an interest in rugby, and clarify the values of this gentleman’s sport that is rooted in guidelines and a respect for the enemy. And the kids want to search out it enjoyable,” Wardak stated.

Most novices in Afghanistan are unclear on the rules of rugby.

Habib, who started coaching the Qahramanan staff about four years in the past, mentioned it was a difficult sport to study.

“It took me about two months to teach them the rules,” he said.

Wardak, the rugby federation spokesman, recalled his first contacts with college college students.

“They might ask me where the aim was and why we needed to move the ball backward — and they thought a scrum was the start of a battle,” he stated.

Brooking mentioned the thing gamers want probably the most in Kabul is pitches. Not straightforward to come by in a city experiencing a demographic increase.

A plot of land about 10,000 metres sq. (2.5 acres) will quickly be allocated for rugby follow, in keeping with the Afghan Rugby Federation, although funds are nonetheless lacking to construct any amenities or put in a good artificial turf. If you have any sort of concerns pertaining to where and how you can use artificial turf grass for sale, you could contact us at our page.