A member of Afghanistan’s National Beach Football Team, Mahmoud Azad, was born in Iran in 1990 and originally comes from Afghanistan’s Herat province.

Azad started playing football in Iran and learned the primary techniques there. Then he with his family returned to Afghanistan and continued to play for football clubs in Kabul.

He was admitted to Afghanistan’s under-17, under-19 and under-23 National Football Teams and finally, in 2012, when the National Beach Football Team was established, Azad managed to get the membership of the team.

Azad lives in a home with 10 family members family in Kabul and hopes that one day to hoist Afghanistan’s flag at the international events.

“In Afghanistan the situation is difficult. If a player wants to pursue only football, then he may reach his goal in a football career, but he might be unable to feed his family,” said Azad.

Waring the National Beach Football Team shirt Azar played in the matches held in Qatar and scored for Afghanistan, proving his skills.

“When Azad comes to the playground, he tries to stay near the goal and provides opportunities for the team to net the ball,” Rohullah Rastgar, the beach football team coach said.

Azad then became an active player and in Asian Olympic Games and played a vital role. Afghanistan got the fourth position in the tournament.

Azad says he hopes that someday Afghanistan Beach National Football Team will play in the beach football world cup.

“The worst day I empierced in beach football was when we failed to get the winner’s medal in a match against Oman,” said Azad.

In his five-year journey with the beach football team, Azad has attended 18 international matches and has scored eight goals for the team.