In a gesture of appreciation for his support of Afghan football, players on Saturday gave the trophy of the Afghan Premier League (APL) championship to President Ashraf Ghani.  

Members of the APL and Women’s Football League teams met with President Ghani at the Presidential Palace on Saturday.  

In this meeting, Ghani called the players idols for the new generation in the country and said they bring smile on the faces of the people, according to a statement by the Presidential Palace. 

Shaheen Asmayee won the championship of the Afghan Premier League in a thrilling match against Simorgh Alborz on Friday. Meanwhile, team Herat won the Women’s Football League championship by defeating Kabul in the final match on Friday. 

On Friday evening ahead of the start of the final match, President Ghani in a video message said sports have strengthened harmony and togetherness in the country. 

“On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, I congratulate the organizers, footballers and my dear people on holding the ninth season of Afghanistan’s Premier League,” Ghani said. “I thank the selected teams who have had colorful presence from different parts of the country.” 

Ghani said that the Afghan youth are the role models of national unity and ambassadors of new Afghanistan “who have said no to war, violence and drugs.” 

Ghani said that the govenemnt has plans for all sports and that they will be implemented in near future. 

Afghan politicians, including First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, Abdullah Abdullah head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, and parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani, also attended the event. Abdullah said Afghans want peace and that no group should prevent the people from their happy moments.