Taliban Sports Officials Reject 'Mazari' Name for Kabul Futsal Team
KABUL — Taliban sports officials refused requests from elders and supporters in west Kabul to retain the name "Omid Shahid Mazari" for a local futsal team, sources said.
The officials insisted that the name "Mazari" must be removed, leading to the team's ban from a futsal tournament in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province. Elders and supporters met Ahmadullah Wasiq, head of the Taliban's General Directorate of Physical Education, Yusuf Karigar, head of the Football Federation, and Hafiz Ahmadjan Zadran, technical deputy, on Saturday and Sunday in west Kabul.
Taliban sports officials required the team to change its name or forgo participation in competitions. The decision was made by senior Taliban officials in Kabul.
The incident reflects broader restrictions on sports activities since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.
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