Rise of football action in Ramazan

Sports and the holy month of Ramazan have a strong connection in Pakistan, especially in Karachi.

Though badminton is an indoor sport, it was widely played in the streets of Karachi when Ramazan used to arrive during winters, when the wind is weaker. People used to tie nets in every nook and corner of the provincial capital and play the sport.

Despite the wind, many people still associate badminton with Ramazan and somehow manage to play the game in the open, with the shuttle moving in the air.

On the other hand, the world knows about the Ramazan cricket tournaments. In fact, there is a strong argument that the small tournaments that take place in the holy month are the originators of T20 cricket around the world. Plus, the popularity of tape-ball cricket, which is strongly associated with this month is no secret.

The rise of football

In this cricket-crazy nation, football is raising its head. In fact, it is getting popular among the younger generation at an exponential rate. Thus, as the holy month for Muslims begins, the football activities also kick off in Karachi.

According to Kareem Kerai, a UEFA certified coach and ex Karachi United coach, over the last five years, there has been a dramatic rise in football activities in Ramazan. He believes that the broadcast of high-quality European football leagues has a major role in this.

“Part of the reason is due to an extensive coverage of the European leagues on TV and how accessible it is to the public,” said Kerai, “The accessibility to watch the top teams around Europe has drastically increased the popularity of the game and in turn, increased the initiatives the public are taking to increase football activity.”

Ramazan football and different formats

The sport is played extensively during the month of Ramazan. Most of the tournaments and matches take place at night, after the tarawih prayers.

Just like night cricket tournaments, these night Ramazan football tournaments have become a common feature during this month. Many players look forward to playing matches late into the night under the lights, which gives a different feel altogether.

In Ramazan, as a player, you have the choice to play any kind of format that you prefer.

“There are 11-a-side tournaments that have taken place in localities such as Naya Nazimabad and Ibrahim Hyderi for local clubs,” he mentioned. “In the more affluent areas of Karachi, futsal tournaments are organised as well which usually require an entry fee and offer a winning cash prize as an added incentive.”

Kerai enlightened that in the city’s football hub, Lyari, there is a unique football format known as ‘D-goal’. The matches are played on the narrow streets of the locality with just players on each side. The roads of Lyari are usually cordoned off for these ‘D-goal’ matches and tournaments.

Different scales of tournaments

Identical to night cricket, there are different levels of football tournaments being played in the city. Some are well-organised with a proper management team, kits and equipment, while others are at the grass-root level, where the players set them up on their own.

“Organisations like Karachi United are currently hosting a well-organised tournament at their Clifton facility with a proper structure and management team. Meanwhile, another tournament that took place in Naya Nazimabad, organised by Ex Pakistan National team assistant coach, Nasir Ismail, was staged pretty well with live broadcasting on Youtube and Facebook,” he shared. “Other tournaments are ad-hoc and low-budget but serve the purpose of providing players with an enjoyable night activity in Ramazan.”

The quantity

How tape-ball cricket is operated in the metropolitan city, football tournaments are hosted following almost the same line. There are events organised everywhere, on green surfaced grounds, streets and cement courts. Therefore, it is hard to quantify the number of tournaments, though surely they are in large numbers.

“It is difficult to put a figure on the number of tournaments that are played in the city because all of them are unofficial (not organised by the local football authorities). However, in every locality you are bound to find either futsal, football or D-goal tournaments that you can watch or participate in,” he said.

Also, football activities take place at different scales. Some have a higher entry fee and a larger monetary reward. Others have a massive number of teams participating in the tournament and the campaign lasts for days.

“It really depends on which area you are analysing or which format you are participating in,” maintained Kerai. “These tournaments either take place at futsal courts, grass grounds or on the streets. The number of teams can vary from eight to up to 64 teams at times. The entry fee can vary from Rs200 to Rs10,000.”

The gains

As football activities are on the rise in the city, it is helpful in promoting the sport among the masses. Moreover, the former Karachi United coach believes that these competitions encourage youngsters to improve their game and shine at whatever level they play.

“These tournaments add to the popularity of the sport because more players are motivated by competing against others,” he said. “A fan base begins to develop as well because the public come and watch these games and that can help the industry in the long-term.”

The vulnerable infrastructure

Although the popularity of the sport is increasing in Karachi, the infrastructure is lackluster, to say the least. Kerai thinks that better facilities in the city will increase the activities even further.

“While the popularity has increased, the city still lacks facilities to host more tournaments for all ages,” he stated. “With more facilities, tournament organisers will jump at the opportunity of hosting more tournaments, in turn, this will promote football within our society.”