Football love in Malir

Dr. Sabina’s love for painting and football comes together to create magic in the streets of Karachi

It’s about time that the football World Cup kicks off in Qatar and preparations are in full swing across the globe with fans excited for the grand event to commence, surprisingly, in Pakistan too.

The football fever is well and truly on and it seems, however, that the World Cup might not just be happening in Qatar, but in the nooks and corners of Pakistan as well.

Dr. Sabina Baloch, an ophthalmologist by profession, living in Karachi’s Malir area has decided that this time around her and the young girls of the community would also get together and participate in painting the walls of the town with FIFA-related memorabilia.

“FIFA is not only happening in Qatar, but it is also happening in Malir’s Siddiq Goth if only anyone would like to come and watch,” she said while talking to Bol News while painting a qualifying team’s flag on the walls in the street.

Much has been said about the obsession of the people from this area with the FIFA World Cup. Every four years, this little town gets a lot of traction because they have decidedly chosen the path less taken and instead of supporting cricket and the national cricket team, have decided that their passion for football should shine brighter with each passing world cup.

“People in this country follow cricket, every match, every tournament is celebrated to the extent that cricket is the highest-paid sport in the country. Cricketers make the most money here.

“But we, the people of Siddiq Goth, feel no qualms about showing our love for football. There are so many young boys here with real talent and the only reason they don’t want to even try to play for the national team is that they will be paid peanuts, and that is sad,” said the doctor.

Why should the boys have all the fun?

Discussing why she decided to take part in decorating the streets this time around, Sabina said: “Every time there’s a FIFA World Cup, it’s the men of our town that paint these walls and draw the murals but the women stay home and even watch the games at home,” she said.

“I decided to step out and be one of those painters so that more families allow their girls to come out and enjoy these festivities. These girls are amazing at drawing and are great painters, why should their talent be restricted within the four walls of their homes?” she questioned.

When asked about how she got the freedom from her own house to go and paint those walls outside, Sabina revealed that her husband is one of the painters and has been painting these walls with murals for years.

“He supported me fully when I decided to join him, we were out painting late yesterday, and it will be the same today and every day until all the art is complete on the streets,” she said.

Siddiq Goth’s Sabina also added that even before her husband, her father had been a constant support for her and had helped her look at life from a different perspective.

“That’s the message I am trying to take forward and teach the young girls around me,” she said. “I want them to be as involved in the town’s activities as the boys are, I want them to have similar opportunities as the boys have of exploring the world,” she conceded, with hope in her eyes.

The ophthalmologist also vowed to change the way women view the match at home, whereas the boys have the liberty to enjoy it on big screens in the streets amidst all the buzz and excitement.

“When the matches are live, the men enjoy it on the big screen in the streets but the women are asked to watch inside the house, this year I want that to change. I want the women to have a dedicated outdoor area where they can also enjoy the match on the big screen,” she exclaimed.

Doctor Baloch further discussed how family politics and everyday household problems can limit an individual and take a toll on their creativity and outlook on life.

She said that when football came to Siddiq Goth, the boys of the area found their escape route and got busy, effectively steering away from the violence associated with Lyari and its surrounding area, but the girls were not as lucky.

“The little girls are still limited to their houses and becoming part of day to day family gossip and the mindless politics within homes,” she said. “I believe they should be given the opportunity to discover their potential as well and show the world what they are capable of.”

At the same time, Sabina was of the opinion that it’s mostly women who pull each other down.

“Something similar happened to me when I stepped out, it was not the men but the women around me who started whispering and gossiping with each other the moment they saw me,” she said.

“And while that’s discouraging, it also encourages me to raise the next generation differently, in a manner that allows them to look beyond all this drama and towards new avenues.”

Germany all the way!

When inquired her about favourite team in this year’s World Cup, she replied by saying: “I will be supporting Germany this time around but Argentina and Brazil have a lot of supporters in Siddiq Goth. People here buy merchandise and memorabilia for these two teams,” she said.

While we were talking to Sabina, the streets around us were buzzing with excitement as young men went around painting flags and murals of players on walls.

Others were seen hanging little paper garlands around the street, a generator had been arranged for, in case there is a power outage during a match and string lights being hanged all around so that the street lights up like an actual stadium during matches.

Buzzing atmoshphere

Moreover, Sabina told how the crowd builds in on game days. “On the day of the game, men arrive at the screening an hour or so before the match, some wearing their team’s shirt and others with flags sitting on either side of the aisle, with the two sides representing the two teams playing.”

According to Doctor Baloch, Siddiq Goth has been well-known for its activities during FIFA World Cups for years. Be it people like Mama Brazil, who is a pakora vendor by day and a staunch supporter of the Brazil team by night, or members of the local Gul Baloch football club who not only watch the sport but play it with an undying passion.

She concluded that the goth has a way of drawing everyone into the festivities of football and this year she is hoping that the women will also be able to enjoy the matches along with the men and support their teams with pride and valour.