Muhammad Riaz Footballer Gets Aid
With the financial assistance and support from the government and the PFL, Riaz's future in football looks promising, and his story serves as an inspiration to other athletes who face similar challenges, highlighting the importance of supporting and promoting sports in Pakistan.
Pakistani footballer Muhammad Riaz, who represented the nation at the 2018 Asian Games, was forced to sell jalebis at a roadside stall due to financial hardships caused by the government's ban on departmental sports, but has now received financial assistance from the Pakistan Football League and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Riaz, a 29-year-old former K-Electric player, lost his job after his departmental team was dissolved due to the ban. He had been waiting for the revival of departmental sports, but the delay left him financially burdened, leading him to find alternative livelihoods. Following a viral interview, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered Riaz a cheque of PKR 2.5 million and a job, while the Pakistan Football League and KP Chief Minister announced a cash prize of PKR 1 million each.
The PFL Chairman, Farhan Junejo, acknowledged Riaz's hardships and committed to supporting him and other talented footballers in Pakistan. Riaz expressed his gratitude and pledged to work with the PFL to ensure no other player is neglected. The KP Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, also met with Riaz and presented him with a Rs1 million financial assistance cheque and appointed him as a football coach under the Department of Sports.
The government's assistance to Riaz has brought hope to other struggling athletes, and the Pakistan Football League's commitment to supporting talented footballers is a positive step towards promoting sports in the country. The government aims to promote all kinds of sports, including regional and traditional games, to provide young people with opportunities to showcase their talents.
