National beach soccer team off to China

KABUL (SW): Afghanistan’s national beach soccer team has left for China to compete in a four-nation international competition.

Ruhullah Rustgar, national coach of the beach soccer team, told Salam Watandar in an exclusive interview that the 10-member team along with 3 officials has left for China for the event that would commence on Wednesday. He informed that the host China, and Malaysia and Oman are the other three teams in this tournament. Rustgar expressed optimism about exceptional performance of the national team at this event.

Evidently excited, Hazrat Gul Baran, one of the national players, informed preparations were underway for this event for the past two months. He vowed the Afghan team would try its best to make a mark.

This is the first time for Afghanistan’s beach soccer team to take part in an international event apart from the Asian championship. The national team played well in previous events hosted by Malaysia and Vietnam. Afghanistan is currently ranked 51^st while Malaysia 73^rd, China 43^rd and Oman 15^th among the beach soccer playing countries.

Good performance in this event can help Afghanistan leave China behind and make it to the 40^th rank.

ENDS