Street children footballers returned home Tuesday to jubilant scenes after clinching the bronze medal in Brazil, with captain Sameer Ahmed hailing the "once in a lifetime" experience. Competing for the first time in the Street Child World Cup, the Pakistanis hammered title-holders India 13-0 in their first match before beating Kenya and Mauritius and tying with the United States to top their group.
They squeezed past the Philippines 3-2 in the quarter-finals before losing to Burundi 3-4 in the semi-finals, but beat the US 3-2 on penalties in the third-place play-off to cap a remarkable tournament for the rookies. Around 4,000 people gathered at Karachi airport to welcome the children back home in an overwhelming display normally reserved for the country's cricketers, Pakistan's main representatives in international sports.
Folk musicians beat traditional drums as fans, both young and old, waved congratulatory banners and danced, though they were eventually denied the chance to see the players who were whisked away. "We were unknown kids before this World Cup, but after seeing such a big crowd I am very happy that people now know us," said Ahmed.
"We had never thought that we will go to Brazil, we just heard the name of Brazil which is famous for football. "Our representation in the event and finishing third has proved that there is enough hidden talent of football in our streets and the only need is to unearth that talent," he added. For Pakistan's leading goalscorer Raziq Mushtaq, 15, the win over rivals India was particularly sweet. "India beat us in cricket World Twenty20 but we exacted the revenge in football and that win over India gave us the confidence to do well in the tournament," said Mushtaq, who hit the back of the net eight times against India and scored 18 goals overall. The team later met Bilawal Bhutto, who announced cash prizes of 100,000 rupees for each player.
Bhutto also announced that he has invited Argentina's legendary footballer Diego Maradona to coach the youngsters. The team was earlier taken to the provincial assembly where information minister Sharjeel Memon announced prizes of 200,000 rupees for each player. FIFA initiated the tournament in 2010, with the first edition held in South Africa and the second in Rio de Janeiro ahead of the World Cup that begins in June.
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