Every four years, the world seems to forget its animosities and differences and meets on a large green patch. Twenty-two men kick a ball around for 90 minutes and added time, while about 40,000 to 50,000 spectators remain spellbound on plastic seats in the stadium, egging their teams on, several thousand more see the game on large screens outside the stadiums, millions others stay glued to their TV screens all around the world. This is the soccer world cup. Countries fight their battles on a soccer field according to the preset rules of the game. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat is on abundant display throughout the tournament. And the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune have already sent packing two of the greatest players of our time, or of all time. Perhaps we will never see Messi and Ronaldo on the world cup stage again. Lifespan on green patches of the world cup is short. Most players could play in a world cup only two or three times in their prime years.
Pakistan, too, participates in the mega event but not in the form of 11 men kicking the ball in a stadium full of adoring fans. Instead, it provides the ball that the best players in the world kick around. Sadly, this remains Pakistan’s only participation or contribution to the world cup, save for the fans who have made it to Russia to witness the biggest carnival in the world. Sialkot is where the highest quality soccer balls are made. Some say they are of such high quality because the fine stitch that the small hands of a child make cannot be simulated by a machine or by larger hands. I have no way of confirming if this is in fact true, but it sounds plausible.
Thousands of Pakistani fans have made the journey to different parts of Russia to see their favorite teams. Others, not interested in soccer have gone in any case to visit an exotic place and be a part of the hustle and bustle. This has been made possible by the liberal visa policy Russia has put in place for a span of 50 days, ten days before the world cup started and ten days after it will end on July 15. This is Russia’s way of trying to boost their economy, hoping tourist Roubles will have a lasting stimulant effect. When you buy a ticket online at the FIFA website, you automatically receive what’s called a FAN ID, an electronic or a laminated document that acts as your visa. After a certain date you only got the electronic form of the FAN ID, as it became too late to mail a laminated version of the document; you would pick that up at one of the various distribution centers in Russia, if actually interested in watching a match at the stadium.
But I have it on good authority that the immigration authorities at the new Islamabad airport have been refusing to board fans who only possess the electronic form of the FAN ID or the printed version of it, telling them that the laminated version is required for traveling. This is apparently based on the misreading of an informal text from the Russian consulate in which additional information about the FAN ID is being mistaken as the main point of the text. The person in charge at the airport flashes this text in front of the fans as an explanation for turning them back. This flies in the face of what the FIFA website clearly states. A dear friend from Kazakhstan was in Moscow when I heard about this and told him. He went to one of the ticket distribution centers and confirmed that the printed or the electronic version of the FAN ID is all that is required for traveling to Russia. Since then I have learned that many carrying the same credentials have been going from other airports in Pakistan to the world cup without a problem.
This is unforgivable from the capital’s airport, especially in a country where we should be doing all we can to make soccer more popular.
Like so many other things schools can be most effective in encouraging soccer. Inter-school competition could groom and send players to a well-organised national soccer league. Pakistan has a massive population of out of school children. To put all those children in schools is of course most desirable, but if we are still unable to do this, would it be so bad that they dreamed of being the future Ronaldos and Messis? Already Pakistan has performed exceptionally in the Street Child World Cup, once reaching the finals. This is a clear indication that soccer talent abounds in the country. It just needs to be encouraged and polished.
It is frustrating that there haven’t been any large screens set up in public areas and stadiums, at least not in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Several countries around the globe do this at the time of the world cup to encourage the sport and to provide entertainment for their citizens. It is still not too late for this to happen.
It’s July 2 today, at the time of writing this article. In a few hours Brazil will take on Mexico. Earlier I saw Pakistan play Australia on a cricket field in Zimbabwe for a T-20 game. For the first time I felt bored watching cricket. That may have something to do with Pakistan’s paltry performance, but I have been high on the buzz of the beautiful game at the world stage.
That cricket is the most popular sport in the country is all fine but so much cheaper and easier would be to kick a ball around in an open space. Some of the best Pakistani cricketers have emerged from the streets but the true street sport is soccer. How wonderful would it be if the incomparable and universal buzz of soccer was to gain some space, nudging our revered residuum of colonialism just a bit.
Pakistan, too, participates in the mega event but not in the form of 11 men kicking the ball in a stadium full of adoring fans. Instead, it provides the ball that the best players in the world kick around. Sadly, this remains Pakistan’s only participation or contribution to the world cup, save for the fans who have made it to Russia to witness the biggest carnival in the world. Sialkot is where the highest quality soccer balls are made. Some say they are of such high quality because the fine stitch that the small hands of a child make cannot be simulated by a machine or by larger hands. I have no way of confirming if this is in fact true, but it sounds plausible.
It is frustrating that there haven't been any large screens set up in public areas and stadiums, at least not in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Several countries around the globe do this at the time of the world cup to encourage the sport and to provide entertainment for their citizens
Thousands of Pakistani fans have made the journey to different parts of Russia to see their favorite teams. Others, not interested in soccer have gone in any case to visit an exotic place and be a part of the hustle and bustle. This has been made possible by the liberal visa policy Russia has put in place for a span of 50 days, ten days before the world cup started and ten days after it will end on July 15. This is Russia’s way of trying to boost their economy, hoping tourist Roubles will have a lasting stimulant effect. When you buy a ticket online at the FIFA website, you automatically receive what’s called a FAN ID, an electronic or a laminated document that acts as your visa. After a certain date you only got the electronic form of the FAN ID, as it became too late to mail a laminated version of the document; you would pick that up at one of the various distribution centers in Russia, if actually interested in watching a match at the stadium.
But I have it on good authority that the immigration authorities at the new Islamabad airport have been refusing to board fans who only possess the electronic form of the FAN ID or the printed version of it, telling them that the laminated version is required for traveling. This is apparently based on the misreading of an informal text from the Russian consulate in which additional information about the FAN ID is being mistaken as the main point of the text. The person in charge at the airport flashes this text in front of the fans as an explanation for turning them back. This flies in the face of what the FIFA website clearly states. A dear friend from Kazakhstan was in Moscow when I heard about this and told him. He went to one of the ticket distribution centers and confirmed that the printed or the electronic version of the FAN ID is all that is required for traveling to Russia. Since then I have learned that many carrying the same credentials have been going from other airports in Pakistan to the world cup without a problem.
This is unforgivable from the capital’s airport, especially in a country where we should be doing all we can to make soccer more popular.
Like so many other things schools can be most effective in encouraging soccer. Inter-school competition could groom and send players to a well-organised national soccer league. Pakistan has a massive population of out of school children. To put all those children in schools is of course most desirable, but if we are still unable to do this, would it be so bad that they dreamed of being the future Ronaldos and Messis? Already Pakistan has performed exceptionally in the Street Child World Cup, once reaching the finals. This is a clear indication that soccer talent abounds in the country. It just needs to be encouraged and polished.
It is frustrating that there haven’t been any large screens set up in public areas and stadiums, at least not in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Several countries around the globe do this at the time of the world cup to encourage the sport and to provide entertainment for their citizens. It is still not too late for this to happen.
It’s July 2 today, at the time of writing this article. In a few hours Brazil will take on Mexico. Earlier I saw Pakistan play Australia on a cricket field in Zimbabwe for a T-20 game. For the first time I felt bored watching cricket. That may have something to do with Pakistan’s paltry performance, but I have been high on the buzz of the beautiful game at the world stage.
That cricket is the most popular sport in the country is all fine but so much cheaper and easier would be to kick a ball around in an open space. Some of the best Pakistani cricketers have emerged from the streets but the true street sport is soccer. How wonderful would it be if the incomparable and universal buzz of soccer was to gain some space, nudging our revered residuum of colonialism just a bit.