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Aziz Ahmad (born c. 1964) is a professional Buzkashi player from Afganistan. Although his playing career has often been interrupted by war, he is now considered by many to be the sport's best living player. Although he was impoverished for much of his life, he has since gained lucrative sponsorships and become wealthy.

Early life

Ahmad was born in a farming village in northern Kunduz to a poor family. He began playing Buzkashi at age 15. At the time that he began playing, Buzkashi was a rite of passage for young men. Although he initially was not a successful player, his skill soon improved and he soon became the village champion.

Military service

At the age of 18 he was conscripted by the Afgan military. He soon defected from the government's military to join the Mujahidin in order to wage jihad. While serving with the Mujahidin he often traveled across the northeastern border into Pakistan. There he collected American supplied weapons and brought them back to Afghanistan. The area that he traveled through was frequently bombed by Soviet jets. On one occasion, he narrowly avoided capture after being ambushed by a group of Soviet soldiers.

Ahmad was able to join a group of Mujahidin who played a game of Buzkashi before a group of dignitaries in Pakistan. Over the course of the war he was occasionally able to play Buzkashi in Afgan refugee camps in Pakistan, as well. In 1992 he was part of a group of Mujahidin who held a game of Buzkashi in Kabul to celebrate the capture of the city.

Playing career

Ahmad initially left Kabul and returned to Kunduz after the conflict with the Taliban began. His playing skill had drawn the attention of Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who was then a powerful warlord. Fahim offered to pay him to return to play in Kabul and chartered a helicopter to bring him back. Ahmad remained in Kabul until leaving shortly before the Taliban took Kabul in 1996. He returned to the north and joined the Northern Alliance to fight against the Taliban.

After the fall of the Taliban in 2001 Ahmad returned to his Buzkashi career. He is still sponsored by Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who is now the vice president of Afghanistan. Fahim pays him a monthly salary and provided him with bonuses for his victories. Some of the bonuses include a house, a jeep, and a second wife. Ahmad now lives in a wealthy area of Kabul. As of April 2011 he has eleven children by his two wives.

References

1. ^ Abi-Habib, Maria; Fazly, Walid (13 April 2011). "In Afghanistan's National Pastime, It's Better to Be a Hero Than a Goat". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
2. ^ "The sport of true warriors". The Taipei Times. AFP. 18 March 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2011.

• Living people
• 1964 births
• Afghan people