BAMYAN - The UNAMA-supported Bamyan Peace Day Football Tournament is now underway at the Mazari Square in downtown Bamyan city, kicking off nearly a month of games meant to promote ideals of peace, solidarity and cooperation.

Co-organized with the Bamyan Olympic Sub-Directorate, the Bamyan Football Federation and the Youth Information and Contact Center (YICC), the football tournament aims to highlight the importance of sports in the country’s peace efforts and development.

“The result will be good. Football sends Bamyan youth messages of peace and prosperity, and it will take the young generation away from drugs, while also stopping them from taking part in negative activities like petty crimes,” said Abdul Satar, head of the eight-year-old Bamyan Football Federation.

The three-week-long tournament, which started on Friday, has 24 teams from the villages around Bamyan city playing against each other leading up to the championship match on 21 September, International Peace Day.

The football tournament consists of three categories (A, B and C) of 10 teams each. Three teams will be declared winners per category; and one team selected as “The Most Ethical Team” in line with the ideals of Peace Day.

A big gathering of sports enthusiasts is expected to watch the final match and view the distribution of prizes to the winning teams in the presence of invited Afghan Olympians.

Government officials, peace activists and the international community, including the UN, will share messages of peace during the award ceremonies.

Speaking on behalf of Bamyan Provincial Governor Habiba Sarabi who is expected to watch some games, Spokesman Abdul Rahman Ahmadi said, “The Provincial Government of Bamyan believes that sports can change the behavior of the young people of Bamyan as it gives them hope for a good future. Competing in sports puts them in a good position to compete for life, to be in a better situation, condition in this life.”

By Aurora V. Alambra, UNAMA Central Highlands Region