Bunch of the Month: Afghanistan Curling Federation

Monawarshah Shazad, Founder and President of the Afghanistan Curling Federation

Question (Q): What is the origin story of the Afghanistan Curling Federation (ACF)? 

Monawarshah Shazad (MS): It began as I was working to start curling in Afghanistan. All the people, who knew me and my work, even the authority of Afghanistan’s sport department were amazed and asked me, “What type of sport is it?” They always made fun of me and were saying that curling is not possible in Afghanistan. But since curling attracted my attention, it did not stop me from going ahead. I began practical steps to establish the ACF, and I faced lots of problems. I submitted my formal application for establishing the ACF to the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee and World Curling Organization in August 2016. We received the approval, after a long discussion and much work, and we started curling activities in Afghanistan.

Q: Are there curling facilities in Afghanistan?

MS: Since Afghanistan has a cold climate, and the last four months of the year is very cold, there is natural ground for curling. We have been using those natural grounds for playing curling.  Since there are no curling tools in Afghanistan, we tried to make our own equipment and tools locally. We use wooden balls instead of stone balls. Shakhes Company manufactured the wooden balls after 6 months.

Q: What are your future goals for the ACF?

MS: Our goal is to standardize this lovely and attractive sport in Afghanistan and make our players ready for the 2022 or 2026 Olympic Games. One of the main problems that we face is with Afghanistan Sport Directorates, especially the Afghanistan Olympic Committee.  The current director of the Afghanistan Olympic Committee wants to cancel the ACF. But since I had promised, I will not let anyone stop or cancel ACF or ACF activities.

Q: What supports and allies does the ACF have?

MS: The Kazakhstan Curling Federation, Russian Curling Federation, Turkish Curling Federation, and Swiss Curling Federation supported us in the training. I appreciate their support, but no Afghanistan sport organization nor larger international curling organizations support us financially.  We ourselves (my curling team members and me) spent all expenses from our private budget, during the last four years. We spent $150,000 (USD) during the past four years for the training and development of the ACF.

Q: What do you want the world to know about the ACF?

MS: As you know, there is no curling equipment or tools in Afghanistan, but we have persevered without having the equipment, tools, and grounds. That is amazing for the world.  This is because of our self-trust, honesty, and regular work.

I want the world to know that a war-torn, poor country in the center of Asia, named Afghanistan, has an honest, brave, and young generation that is interested in this sport, and is trying to come out from the sinkhole of war to open a new page for their future.