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Thousands of young Afghans, both men and women, gathered in Kabul Football Stadium to watch
the final of the first ever Afghan Premier League.
The league was organised by the Afghan Football Federation and sponsored by a major communications
company in Afghanistan, and a company which owns and operates media industries in developing
nations.
The season started in September, with eight teams representing all parts of Afghanistan.
Abdul Saboor Walizada, an official for the project, said it was a new page in the history
of Afghan football:
"Now we are not interested in watching the European Leagues and teams like Manchester,
Real Madrid or Barcelona. Today Afghans are able to organise football tournament such
as European leagues, and each team participating in our League is the Barcelona of Afghanistan
and the Real Madrid of Afghanistan."
Among thousands of spectators on Friday, there were a handfulof young Afghan girls to cheer
for their team, a scene no one could even imagine a decade ago.
"It's final, it is exciting for all the people. They are just waiting for the result to see
who is the winner. My favourite team is Tofan Harirod and I dearly want Tofan Harirod to
be the winner and get the golden cup,"
The Sky Blues of Tofan Harirod claimed the first championship by beating Simurgh Alborz
2-1 in the final.