Liyari’s playgrounds empty due to COVID

However, Liyari’s people love for sports has got a setback when COVID brought all the sports activities in the area to a standstill.

As the pandemic prolonged, Liyari’s sports have hindered to a point that a place that was associated with boxing, football and camel-cart race, no longer observes such sports activities.

Apart from the gang wars, the fame that Liyari has earned because of itss athletes. Even the limited resources and the lack of support by the government couldn’t end people’s love for sports. The youngsters of Liyari revived the area’s glory with their hard work without the backing of authorities.  Football and boxing run in the veins of people living in the area. Liyari’s footballers are world-famous and the area is better known as Mini Brazil due to the Lyariitis’ obsession with football. The football mantra has become routine in Liyari which has gifted many players from the area to make a spot in National Football Team. However, football activities have completely halted in the area in the current pandemic situation.

A representative of Liyari’s local football club and the current captain of the National Football team, Sadam Hussain says, “As the federations’ issues have been resolved, the coronavirus situation has brought Lyari's footballers to the brink of disaster. Lyari plays a significant role in the district’s as well as country’s football. Just like the other parts of the country, the sports activities in Liyari have also been affected due to COVID with many tournaments having to be postponed or canceled. Athletes suffer from "depression" due to lack of large-scale events and lack of training permits.”

The only footballer in Pakistan to achieve President’s Award for High Performance and former captain, Ali Nawaz Baloch seemed to second Sadam Hussain. According to the former captain, there are currently more than 200 registered and unregistered clubs in Lyari but the non-provision of facilities, coronavirus, and ban on Pakistan by FIFA have demotivated the footballers of Liyari. He said that more than 6,000 registered footballers in more than 200 clubs are also waiting for a miracle in the current situation. Kakri Ground, Gabol Ground, KMC Football Ground are considered to be the hubs of football activities in Lyari. However, activities of other sports including football are practically suspended in all the big and small fields following government orders.

“Due to Coronavirus, the players cannot practice in the fields or play any large-scale matches, and FIFA's restrictions have blocked access to foreign leagues and competitions,” the legendary former captain added.      

Interestingly, where football has become favorite for Liyariitis, the area has vast potential for boxing as well. Liyari has several boxing clubs from where many boxers have represented and glorified Pakistan in various international competitions. However, for some time now, the coronavirus has been lingering in clubs and academies in Liyari.

Lyari’s professional boxer Nader Baloch, who has been unbeaten in all ten international competitions, says, "In the current situation of Coronavirus, the government has left the players here helpless. There are no health facilities for boxers and no proper arrangements for clubs and trainers. The training centers have been closed pertaining to SOPs. In the present circumstances, when death is prevailing everywhere in the form of virus, how can boxing in Liyari survive?”

The Middle East Title holder, Nadir Baloch told us in an emotional way, “On one hand our players are worried about coronavirus while on the other hand, the lack of patronage.”

According to the President of Sindh Boxing Association, Asghar Baloch, Liyari's identity is boxing. The only Olympic medal for Pakistan was also won by Hussain Shah, a boxer from Lyari. He won 21 gold, 16 silver and 9 bronze medals in the SAF Games as well as 2 gold medals in the Commonwealth Games. Apart from this, the talented boxer from Lyari has also won 5 gold medals in Commonwealth boxing competitions.

Asghar Baloch further added that there are 13 registered boxing clubs in Lyari while there are 17 to 18 clubs in total where male and female boxers practice on a daily basis for their competitions. He said that despite the pandemic, the Sindh Boxing Federation had organized several local competitions during the last year but several events had to be canceled due to the worsening situation of the pandemic.

Acknowledging the inadequate training arrangements for the boxers during the coronavirus, he said "the players have been told to wait for the situation to improve".