KABUL (SW) – The Afghan Premier League on Thursday got a new lifeline as Rehmani Foundation came forward to sponsor the famous football league facing financial constraints.
Yosuf Kargar, technical head of the Afghanistan Football Federation, Shafiq Gohari, manager of the Afghan Premier League, and Ajmal Rehmani, head of the Ajmal Foundation inked the new sponsorship contract to ensure the tournament goes ahead as planned.
Two months ago, the management of the tournament announced financial constraints led to the cancellation of this year’s event. It noted the Afghanistan Football Federation and the Afghan Premier League management are working to organize the tournament for 2019. “The Afghan Premier League centered around the message ‘One nation – One voice, hereby announces that the 2018 season of the greatly anticipated tournament must be postponed due to insufficient financial support’’, it announced in August.
Rehmani, who is also candidate for the forthcoming Wolesi Jirga (lower house) elections, said football is a famous sport in the country, and he came for the rescue of APL due to its popularity in the country. The APL manager, Shafiq Gohari, thanked Rehmani, and hoped the cooperation evolves into sustainable partnership. Yosuf Kargar, technical head of the AFF, expressed happiness over the resumption of APL tournament.
Responding to a question asked by Salam Watandar, Gohari said there are three main reasons why APL has failed to prove sustainable after seven years of the lunch. He blamed lack of resources for football at provincial levels, security concerns and economic impediments for it.
This year’s tournament would conclude in three weeks rather than the usual two months’ schedule.
APL teams:
- Shaheen Asmayee
- De Maiwand Atalan
- Toofan Harirod
- De Spinghar Bazan
- Simorgh Alborz
- Oqaban Hindukosh
- Mawjhai Amu
- De Absin Sape
ENDS
