In honor of the Afghan National Football Team's recent win at the 2013 SAFF Championship, MPs on Saturday announced that they would donate three-days worth of donations to the players. The total is estimated to be around three million Afghani.
Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, the Speaker of the Lower House, said that the win unified the people of Afghanistan by removing all political, cultural and regional divides. Mr. Ibrahimi said he would give his one month's salary to the players of the team. Mr. Ibrahimi asked Naqibullah Faieq, the head of the Health and Sports Committee, to start collecting money from all MPs.
"The Health and Sports Committee will collect the three-day salaries from all MPs. I, on behalf of the National Assembly, would like to gift my one month's salary to the players. They have created history and should be rewarded," Mr. Ibrahimi said.
The Afghan Lawmakers praised the team's performance at the SAFF Cup, which marked the first international tournament win in Afghanistan's history. Days after massive street celebrations swept the nation in joyous response to the 2-0 victory over India in the finals, the MPs said the team made their country proud.
"They showed to the world a new face of Afghanistan. The football team has played a key role in unifying the people of Afghanistan, and they should be supported in every possible way," MP Ramazan Jomazada said.
"The team by winning the championship showed to the world that Afghans are tired of war and want peace. These heroes should be supported in every possible way," said MP Shekiba Hashimi.
"The members of the football team should be invited to House and honored. The MPs will give their three-day salary, estimated to be around three million Afghani, to the players," said Mr. Faeiq.
Additionally, the MPs applauded President Hamid Karzai's message on the win and thanked TOLO TV for broadcasting the matches live.
THe MPs suggested the National Assembly to make September 11 a national holiday, so that the victory is remembered every year.