KABUL, July19, 2016 – Afghanistan Sports Journalists Federation President Sayer Zaland metthe young boy known as ‘Afghan Messi’ who is still waiting for his hopes ofmeeting hero Lionel Messi to come true.
Five-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi is still inAfghanistan despite rumors that he and his family fled to Pakistan last month.
Arif Ahamddi, the father of Afghan Messi confirmedto the ASJF president that the family is still in Jaghori, Afghanistan and doesnot intend to flee the country.
Murtaza,who became an internet hit after wearing makeshift Messi shirt, received asurprise from his hero in the form of an Argentina shirt but Afghan Messi stillhopes to meet his hero one day and also to learn about football.
“I got a gift from my hero but I would loveto meet him, I also want to learn football. Even if I am from a small village, Ihope to become like Messi.”
The boy’s father, Mohammad Arif Ahmadi, toldAIPS Media: “We got a gift from my son’s hero but now we need to educatemy son, we need to train him and make him like his hero.”Although earlier inFebruary 2016, the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) told Al Jazeera thatthe boy would get a chance to meet his football hero, a date and venue hadstill not been confirmed. Arif Ahmadi addressed the ASJF in the meeting withthe president expressed his hope that the association and the AIPS family couldhelp.