 "Pakistan footballer Muhammad Riaz turns street vendor. Image: ASports/Riaz-Facebook")
Muhammad Riaz, a former Pakistan national footballer who represented the country in the 2018 Asian Games, has recently found himself struggling to make ends meet. In a heartbreaking turn of events, the 29-year-old athlete was seen selling jalebis at a roadside stall in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Riaz’s journey reflects the harsh reality of football in Pakistan, a country where cricket dominates.
From international footballer to street vendor
Riaz’s plight came to light after a viral social media video showed him making and selling jalebis to support his family. This shift in his career stemmed from the Pakistan government’s decision to ban departmental sports in the country. This move was intended to promote club-based sports, but it eventually left hundreds of athletes jobless.
According to a report by Pakistan’s A Sports TV, the ban on departmental sports, imposed in 2019 under Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, has led to significant financial instability for athletes like Riaz. Despite promises from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of PMLN to restore the system, many affected players continue to struggle.
“I waited for years for the return of departmental sports. When the Prime Minister announced the revival, I felt hopeful, but the delay has been unbearable,” Riaz was quoted as saying by Pakistani media.
Support pours in for Muhammad Riaz
After Riaz’s story went viral across the globe, support from various quarters poured in. The Pakistan Football League (PFL) stepped forward on Wednesday, announcing a cash prize of 1 million Pakistani Rupees (PKR) to support the struggling footballer.
His story also caught the attention of government officials. On 13 March, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, invited Riaz to the CM House in Peshawar and handed him a cheque of PKR 1 million and appointed him as a football coach under the Department of Sports.
On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally met Muhammad Riaz at the Prime Minister House, offering him financial aid and government job. During the meeting, Sharif handed Riaz a cheque of PKR 2.5 million and promised him a government job in a federal department of his choice.