The situation in Afghanistan is deeply important to Anoush Dastgir, the country's only 31-year-old national coach. Dastgir came to the Netherlands at a young age and tells De Telegraaf about the situation of one of his players who is in Afghanistan. Because of the seizure of power by the Taliban, he has to fear for his life.
As a footballer in the Netherlands, Dastgir just didn't make it to professional football and decided at a young age to focus on the coaching profession. He was appointed by the Afghan Football Association in 2018, becoming the youngest national coach ever. "I soon noticed that the national team had a huge influence on the rest of our country," said the proud Dastgir. "Previously, one television channel had the broadcasting rights, now there are four. The people of Afghanistan say that we are their only joy, that we are the only ones who put a smile on their faces. The connection grew so much that I started to delve more and more into politics."
Now that the Taliban have taken power in Afghanistan, football has become an afterthought in the country. "I have daily contact with my players via WhatsApp," dastgir says. "One is in western Afghanistan. He sent, "Trainer, I really need to cry that you send me a message. We are so powerless. Every day we wonder when they come to kill me, because I played for the national team." I didn't sleep for four or five nights. I can only hope that the Taliban do not invade his house and kill him. He just played for the people."
Dastgir's father, like him, has a Dutch passport, but went back to Afghanistan in 2004 to help the country. The national coach appeals to his father and the rest of the Afghan citizens. "This is the time when the Afghan people must ensure that the Taliban do not gain total power. The moment when they can retain their rights, which has been fought for for twenty years and for which people have been killed. Show once that it was not for nothing. If that doesn't happen, then in a month's time, when the media attention is gone, you will have no chance."
Dastgir thinks that his father should stay despite the extremely troubled situation. "It may hurt my father that I say this, but I don't want him to abandon his residents. He can take the plane, because he has a Dutch passport. But I don't want him to do that. I want him to be at the forefront of the fight if there is resistance. He went back to Afghanistan in 2004 to make a difference. Now there are problems and he should not leave."
Dastgir himself continues to monitor the situation from the Netherlands. "I went in a different direction and as a national coach in my field I have meant something to my country. I didn't grow up in Afghanistan. I do ask him to stay. No matter how bad it gets. Even if he were to die in battle. Then I am very sad, but at the same time very proud. Fight together and then you can win, draw or lose. That's the way it is for me, and that's the way it is for my father."
https://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=392505
dutch article which i translated, felt interesting enough to share here