© Reuters 2002

PUSAN, South Korea, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's journey to the Asian Games took almost a week after delay at the Pakistan border and stopovers in Karachi, Bangkok and Seoul so their footballers are not letting a 10-0 defeat by Iran get them dowm.

The Afghans take on Qatar in their second group E match on Tuesday knowing that, while their goal difference could do with a boost, they have already taken a significant step in returning to international competition for the first time since 1994.

For a team used to practising at the main stadium in Kabul, where the deposed Taliban regime once carried out public executions, simply taking part in the quadrennial Asian Games is more important than results.

"It is just an honour to play in such beautiful stadiums. The facilities here, the green trees, the mountains are just fantastic," said Afghanistan coach Mir Ali Asgar.

"We know we have a lot of work to do but we will try and achieve as much as possible in the short time we are here."

As Afghanistan embarks on a new chapter after 23 years of occupation and civil war, a serious lack of funds almost scuppered the team's ambitions of taking part in their first Asian Games since Hiroshima in 1994. However, the sport's ruling body FIFA donated $40,000 to pay for the 24-man delegation's transport and kit, paving the way for the Afghans to return to the Asian Games football tournament after a 48-year absence.

Even then, they faced numerous obstacles before arriving in Pusan on Thursday.

BORDER TROUBLE
Pakistani customs officials held the team up for several hours, apparently suspicious that they were seeking refuge across the border. After that, the Afghan delegation was corralled in buses and planes for six days as the players travelled to Islamabad and then Karachi, Bangkok and Seoul before finally reaching Pusan.

Yet even an itinerary that would try the patience of a saint failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the Afghanistan players.

"What is important is that we are here. We want to show the world that, even in the last few years, the athletes have been practising hard," said midfielder Rahil Mohammad.

"None of us has been to Korea (before) but we all want to fly the Afghanistan flag with pride at the Asian Games."

One player perhaps best equipped to raise awareness of football in Afghanistan is striker Sayed Tahir Shah, dubbed the country's answer to England captain David Beckham.

Tahir first made a name for himself with a superb goal in a match between a select Kabul eleven and the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) peacekeepers in the Afghan capital in February. The match was broadcast around the world.

With the team still feeling the effects of jet-lag, Tahir failed to impress against Iran but he will have the chance to put that right against Qatar, who drew 1-1 with Lebanon in their opening match.

While they might be odds-on to lose their next two games, the Afghans have already achieved a huge moral victory by coming in from the dark and returning to the international sporting arena.