KUNDUZ - Kunduz hosted Helmand this week for a friendly football match to improve cultural relations between the southern and northeastern provinces of the country.

The Kunduz Shaheens faced the Helmand Yarans in Kunduz Municipality Park in front of more than 500 spectators, including government officials and young people.

“I am very pleased to be here and watch the football competition. I will be happy to watch more friendly competitions among the sport teams of various provinces in Kunduz,” said Mahmmod Omerkhil, one of the fans.

The Shaheen home team beat the Yarans six to one, walking away with Youth and Peace medals.

The Yarans seemed to be good sports about the loss.

“I am thankful for the hospitality of Kunduzi youth. We had a friendly competition,” said Mir Wali, defender on the Helmand Yaran Football team.

“The security situation here seems better,” he added.

The head of the Kunduz Culture and Media Communication Foundation, the group which co-organized the game with the Afghanistan Football Federation, said he hoped the security situation would hold and more games could be organized.

“There are no major security concers. Now Afghan citizens can travel from other provinces to Kunduz. You can see yourself that there are Helmandi youth here,” said Zabihullah Majidi, the regional head of the Foundation.

The game comes just weeks before the UN International Year of Youth wraps up on 12 August. Read more about the International Year of Youth.

By UNAMA Kunduz