South Africa has been honoured to host the World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event, for the first time in the continent's chequered history. From June 11 to July 11, we will be watching some exciting football on our television screens. Some sports writers describe the World Cup as a political event that brings the world together. “Countries that won't negotiate will play each other in the field and shake hands afterward.”

These are some useful lessons we can learn from this great event. Among the many revolutionary measures contemplated for Balochistan's development, the provincial government can take lead for reviving football in schools and colleges.

The game requires no expensive fancy clothing and equipment and won't be heavy on the purse. It would be still better if some wealthy businessmen contribute towards reviving the game. The youth of Balochistan are well suited to match any player of the western world both in physique and talent, if given the facilities and training by world-renowned professional coaches.

By urging them to drop their weapons and play football, they can make significant contribution towards the province's progress in character building and discipline, instead of playing politics all the time, or waiting for the federal government to help them.

There is a lot of money in this venture. A world-class football player such as Ronaldo of Brazil earns $19 million a year. Entrepreneurs, who own teams, earn a lot more. In the Netherlands, there is a privately-owned club that trains boys aged seven to 19, with talent and love for the game, to become future world-class football players. And when they get to that stage, the club gets offers from different European countries to buy them. The prices are astronomical. I would establish such a club in Quetta if I were a rich man.

Quetta is the right place to make a start. This once lovely health resort produced some famous footballers of international standard in pre-partition days. Even in the early years of Pakistan, football was the game of choice in Balochistan. Even the strictest mullahs of the town accepted and watched the matches without issuing fatwas against young boys wearing shorts.

ZIA REHMAN
United States