The football World Cup fever is over in Brazil. The German ascendency, fourth in the annals of the game and first as a unified nation, is a testimony to their resilience and class and the result of their remarkable 10-year plan that eventually paid-off in the mega event.

Germany’s solitary goal triumph in extra-time against former world champions Argentina in the game’s high-profile event has brought good fortunes to all the team members besides enhancing the country’s image globally.

Pakistan, although ranked 164th in FIFA rankings, can also feel proud on two counts. First, it finished on the podium by defeating the United States 3-2 on penalty shootout in the playoff for third position in the preceding Street Child World Cup held earlier this year in Rio de Janeiro. Second, the footballs (Brazuca) used in the FIFA World Cup were made in Sialkot which is, indeed, an honour for Pakistan.

As for other sports, there was a time in 1994 when Pakistan possessed four World titles including those of cricket, hockey, squash and snooker which was a rare feat by all measures. As a gesture of recognition, the government of Pakistan always befittingly rewarded its heroes in cash and kind besides giving them promotions in departments or organisations where they were employed.

Warm welcome to Street Child World Cup heroes

However, veteran snooker player Mohammad Yousuf, who reached the zenith at Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1994, by beating J.R. Johannesson in the World Cup final, was not that lucky in this regard.

Yousuf, 62, who was bestowed with the Pride of Performance and a piece of land in Islamabad for his remarkable performance, couldn’t get a permanent job. He remained a contractual employee in the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) for a monthly remuneration of Rs6,000 and then Rs10,000 from 2002 to 2009 before he was shown the door.

Of late, another cueist Mohammad Asif, who followed in the footsteps of Yousuf at Sofia, Bulgaria in 2012, is another victim of government’s apathy to the baize game.

A native of Faisalabad, Asif was supposed to get the Pride of Performance last year but his name was removed from the list at the eleventh hour to accommodate a blue-eyed person.

Asif was invited by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House in Islamabad on Wednesday (July 9) but the meeting, unfortunately, failed to yield any positive results.

Once considered a force to be reckoned with, Pakistan, today, is seen nowhere in hockey or squash. In fact Pakistan even failed to qualify for the recently held hockey World Cup held at the Hague, the Netherlands which is lamentable to say the least.

Those in the corridors of powers will have to mend their ways in order to see Pakistan’s flag aloft in international sport arenas.

Only timely rewards by the government and provision of regular jobs can enhance morale of teams/players which will help them overcome the challenges and compete with a new vigour.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014