Abdulla Bukhowa, (centre, back) CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), Qatar, Karachi United’s Director Imran Ali (left, back) and SCB’s Associate Director, Communications Corporate Affairs, Tasneem Mirza (second left, back) pose for a group photo with Kar
Shabbir Ahmed is relishing the experience of playing on the same turf at Aspire Academy where his ‘heroes’ Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani practised a couple of months ago.
For the 12-year-old, who hails from Karachi’s slum neighbourhood of Lyari, it’s like living a dream.
“We have been told that the PSG players were in action on the same pitch (in January) on which we are playing. It’s a fantastic feeling. This experience is giving us great pleasure, pride and motivation,” Shabbir told The Peninsula yesterday.
“Neymar is my favourite player. Cavani and Mbappe are also my heroes, and enjoying the same facilities as of them is like one of my dreams has come true,” said the young footballer, whose father is jobless and is hardly able to make ends meet for a family of eight. Shabbir, one of 27 footballers part of Karachi United’s U-11 and U-12 teams, is on a five-day visit to Doha on the invitation from Aspire Academy.
Karachi United is a non-profit organisation in Pakistan that works using football as a social tool. It has formed football teams in various age groups, starting at the age of 8 years. Most of the children, who join the academy come from an impoverished background and get full support from the academy.
The U-12 team, which is in Doha was invited by Aspire Academy after it won the Standard Chartered Bank-sponsored Karachi United Football League. The event, which was held in Karachi last September saw the participation of 720 boys and 80 girls.
During their stay, the Karachi U-12 team is scheduled to play a total of 8 matches against the Aspire Academy side.
While praising state-art-of-the-art facilities at Aspire, Karachi United’s Director Imran Ali, who is accompanying the teams, said the Doha trip will prove to be a great learning curve for his players.
“We have been to Barcelona and Manchester United but Aspire has the world’s best facilities. In the winter, many big clubs including Bayern Munich and PSG come because of the top-notch facilities. It’s astounding how they maintain the standards,” Ali said in a candid chat with media at Doha Tower, yesterday.
Ali hoped the young players will return home with a significant experience after exposure at Aspire Academy.
“Qatar are the Asian champions and many members of their national team, which won the Asian Cup, are Aspire graduates. That speaks volume of the talent development Qatar is doing and the marvellous facilities here. We look forward that our players will get valuable experience and keep on returning to Doha,” he said.
“I would like to thank Aspire for giving us this opportunity and Standard Chartered for their continued support,” Ali added.
Abdulla Bukhowa, Standard Chartered Bank’s (SCB) CEO in Qatar, backed the Karachi United’s youngsters to have a bright future, saying his bank will continue to support such initiatives.
“Karachi United’s initiative fits in our programme. We have responsibility to give opportunity to people who are normally not included in such activities. Our strength is being diverse, which include all members of the society,” said Bukhowa.
“KU is doing a fantastic job by giving chance to these kids. For us it’s a privilege to be able to work with them and to see them grow and thrive,” he added.
Tasneem Mirza, SCB’s Associate Director, Communications Corporate Affairs said the bank was running many programmes for communities.
“We are in 65 countries and we have been working in these countries on community activities,” she said. “SCB is thankful to Aspire Academy for hosting the Karachi United teams and we hope this trip will be beneficial for these youngsters.”
