Stadium with sports facilities for soldiers built in Kandahar

KANDAHAR CITY, May 29 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The 205 Army Corps has built a sprawling stadium for soldiers in this southern city, where sports and workouts remain a favourite pastime for many despite endemic militant-linked violence.

Gen. Rehmatullah Raufi told Pajhwok Afghan News on Tuesday the stadium, costing seven hundred thousand afghanis, provided by the Defence Ministry, had been set up in the courtyard of the 205 Atal Corps.

The army stadium - with huge grounds and courts for different indoor and outdoor games - had modern sports equipment that soldiers might use for leisure activities in their free time, Raufi added.

Similar stadiums for army personnel in the neighbouring Zabul, Uruzgan and Helmand provinces, where the rising insurgency has claimed thousands of lives over the last couple of years - are also in the works, according to the general.

In Qalat, the capital of Zabul, Ittehad Club inflicted a crushing defeat on a meek opposition in the final of the Spring Football Championship to emerge as champions.

Ahmad Wais, head of the Zabul Olympic Committee, said Ittehad Club cruised to an emphatic 4-0 triumph over the Sheikh Mati High School team in the final played Monday evening.

At the conclusion of the weeklong event featuring several provincial outfits, the winners and runners-up received glittering cups and appreciation certificates from organisers.
sz/mud