KABUL, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Roshan Afghan Premier League, the first tier of soccer tournament in Afghanistan, kicked off in the capital Kabul Thursday, the fourth season since 2012.
During the opening match, Simorgh Alborz won against the defending champion Shaheen Asmayee with 3:1.
Notwithstanding the continued threat of violence in the capital jordan 6 for sale , which has seen a series of bomb attacks in recent days, an estimated 10,000 football fans, including hundreds of women and girls, gathered at the Kabul Stadium to cheer for their teams.
Showing their enthusiasm, some football fans painted their faces with national designs and waved the three-colored national flag jordan 5 for sale , which was rarely seen in this relatively conservative Islamic nation.
"Eight local teams which made up of hundreds of footballers from across the country are here to contest Premier Football League and the best one from among the players of all the teams would be included in the National Football Team to contest regional and international championships," Deputy to Afghanistan National Olympic Committee Yusuf Kargar told Xinhua.
The final eight teams, each representing one competition zone across Afghanistan, have arrived in Kabul for the final stage competition. They will be divided into two groups for the group stage competition and the best two of each group will enter the final elimination game, which will be held in late October.
Kabul Stadium was once the venue of public executions and stoning undertaken by the Taliban during their brutal Islamic rule. During their reign between 1996 to 2001 the fundamentalist group strictly implemented the sharia justice that meted harsh punishments for violators of Islam that included stoning for adultery, public execution for murder jordan 4 for sale , and amputating hands for thefts.
"Since our players are from across the country, from different tribes and provinces, I am sure that we can strengthen national unity through football in Afghanistan," said Kargar, a former coach of Afghan national football team.
The post-Taliban Afghanistan has made tremendous progress in the field of sports over the past decade and has brought medals from regional and international championship, an achievement unheard of during the Taliban rule.
Afghan athletes brought honor the country by winning medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and in the 2012 London Olympics.
"I am very happy and proud today since as a member of the team competing in the Premier League I have the opportunity to represent my beloved country in international competitions jordan 3 for sale ," Shaheen Asmaye player Mohammad Azim Najafi, said before the start of the opening match.
Najafi said he hopes the tournament will be able to form a national Afghan team that can win in regional and international soccer competitions, adding that football can help unite the country.
Two female football fans, Sheasta Sadeqi, 18, and Shukila Rezzae jordan 1 for sale , 23, told Xinhua that the tournament brought respite from the tension and fear that Kabul citizens felt during the past week.
"We really forgot about the suicide attacks at least momentarily, Rezzae said.
BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump discussed Trump's visit to China later this year and the Korean Peninsula situation over phone late Monday.
In the phone conversation, Xi said China and the United States share extensive common interests and have seen sound momentum of exchanges and cooperation in various areas at present.
The Chinese president said that he is happy to maintain communications with Trump on a regular basis over topics of mutual concern.
He also said that Beijing attaches great importance to Trump's state visit to China, and called on both sides to work closely so as to ensure a fruitful trip and inject new impetus into the development of China-U.S. relations.
The two sides need to strengthen high-level contacts and contacts at all levels www.jordansretrosshoes.com , well operate the first round of China-U.S. social and cultural dialogue, as well as law enforcement and cyber security dialogue, and extend bilateral cooperation in all fields, Xi noted.
For his part, Trump said he is looking forward to paying the state visit to China, hoping that the trip can strongly move bilateral ties further forward.
It is satisfactory for the U.S. and Chinese heads of state to maintain close contacts and a fine working relationship jordan retro for sale , Trump said.
This year, both the United States and China have important domestic agendas, the U.S. president noted, expressing the hope that these agendas will all be smoothly carried out.
In the phone conversation, Xi also expressed sympathy and solicitude to Trump and the American people for the hurricane attacks on the United States over the past few days, and Trump expressed thanks therefor.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.
It is notable that this is the second phone conversation between the two heads of state within less than two weeks. The previous talk came on Sept. 6 air jordan for sale , when the two leaders talked about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
During their previous phone conversation, Xi said China has been adamant in preserving international nuclear non-proliferation regime, maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and resolving the nuclear issue through talks.
The Chinese president said the general direction should head toward a peaceful settlement of the issue, adding that dialogue combined with a set of comprehensive measures is best for seeking a long-term solution.
Trump responded that Washington has been deeply concerned over the ongoing situation on the Korean Peninsula, and attaches importance to China's essential role in resolving the issue.
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