Tag: Muhammad Riaz

The Pakistan Football League (PFL) has stepped up to support Muhammad Riaz, the former national footballer who was recently seen selling jalebis on the streets of Hangu.

After his heartbreaking story went viral, PFL Chairman Farhan Junejo announced a cash prize of Rs1 million for Riaz and offered him a guaranteed position in the league, ensuring that his career doesn’t end due to financial struggles.

Riaz, who represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, was left without a source of income after the disbanding of departmental sports.

With no league structure or financial support, he was forced to abandon the sport he loved and take to street vending just to survive.

His situation shed light on the grim reality faced by many Pakistani athletes who dedicate their lives to their sport but are left in the lurch when the system fails them.

Acknowledging Riaz’s struggles, PFL Chairman Farhan Junejo stated, “Muhammad Riaz is a prime example of hundreds and thousands of talented footballers in Pakistan who have been forced to leave the football field due to a lack of platforms and financial support.”

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“I, on behalf of PFL, would like to reward Muhammad Riaz with Rs1 million and a prominent position in PFL. He is not only an excellent player but also has represented Pakistan on the global stage. Such amazing talent deserves all the support we can offer in our maximum capacity.”

Junejo further emphasized the league’s commitment to ensuring that footballers like Riaz don’t have to abandon their careers due to financial instability. He reiterated that this is exactly why the PFL was created—to provide opportunities, transparency, and a structured pathway for players to grow.

Riaz, overwhelmed by the support, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am thankful to PFL for providing me an opportunity to showcase my lost love for football. I will be working together with PFL to make sure no other player remains neglected.”

The PFL has also announced plans to provide free kits and training facilities to underprivileged footballers in Hangu as part of its ongoing mission to promote football development in Pakistan.

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Muhammad Riaz, a footballer who once represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, now finds himself standing at a roadside stall in Hangu, making jalebis to survive.

Riaz’s journey—from playing at an international level to battling financial struggles—highlights the grim reality of football in a country where the sport remains in the shadows of cricket. While football thrives globally, in Pakistan, it continues to be an afterthought.

Like many athletes, Riaz lost his livelihood after the ban on departmental sports—a move that was intended to encourage club-based structures but instead left hundreds of athletes unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.

Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced the restoration of departmental sports—abolished in 2019 under the PTI government—Riaz remains one of many athletes still waiting for the promised change.

“For years, I waited for the revival of departmental sports,” Riaz shared with the media. “I was hopeful after the prime minister’s announcement, but the delay has been unbearable.”

With no financial support and no foreseeable future in football, Riaz had no choice but to find another way to feed his family.

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“I had to earn an honest living. That’s why I’m here, making jalebis instead of playing football,” Muhammad Riaz added.

In a heartfelt appeal, he passionately called upon the government to revitalize departmental sports.

He posed a stirring question, challenging the authorities to reflect on whether this dismal fate was truly the destiny reserved for our national heroes, those who once brought pride and glory to the nation.

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