Muhammad Riaz, once a celebrated footballer who represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, now finds himself in a dire situation, selling jalebis on the streets to make ends meet.
Riaz, originally from Hangu and a former player for K-Electric, shared his story in a tearful video that has been circulating on social media.
The 29-year-old athlete expressed his frustration at the lack of support for athletes in Pakistan and the government’s failure to fulfil promises regarding the revival of departmental sports.
Riaz’s situation sheds light on the struggles faced by many sportspeople in Pakistan. Despite previous assurances from the prime minister about the revival of sports departments, Riaz, like many others, has been left without a stable income and has had to resort to street vending to survive.
He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for banning departmental sports, a decision he believes has damaged the country’s sports infrastructure and left athletes without essential support.
“For years, I waited for the promised revival of departmental sports,” Riaz said. “But with no income, I had no choice but to cook jalebis on a street corner to feed my family instead of practising football.”
Riaz’s situation is far from unique. Many national athletes, particularly in football and hockey, are facing similar struggles.
