WHILE Karachi, especially Lyari, is plagued by violence and street crimes, our street children have impressed the world by winning a bronze medal in the Street Child Football World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

Pakistani children played impressively in the matches and thrashed India 13-0 before defeating Kenya 2-0, Mauritius 3-0 and drawing with the US 1-1, to finish at top in their group.

Later, they edged past the Philippines 3-2 on penalty kicks in the last eight. They lost to Burundi 4-3 in the semifinals, and won the bronze after defeating the US 3-2 in shootout in the playoff.

Diego Maradona has recently said the Argentine Football Association knows as much about football as does Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). However, our boys proved at least they have talent. If Pakistan is provided same facilities as the AFA has, not only we can produce players like Messi, we can produce better players in Pakistan than Maradona.

The government has appreciated and welcomed the team. But it is now time to pay attention to the PFF. It is time for the PFF to wake up from its deep slumber and play its part by arranging some good coaches for the children to get a number of quality players like we had in the past like Essa Khan and Jaffar Khan.

Aimen Tehseen
Karachi