Puli Khumri, the capital of Baghlan, does not received much attention and support in terms of public services, especially play-grounds and other sports facilities. Realizing the importance of exercise for children and youth, USAID assisted the municipality in construction of a new futsal pitch. The management and maintenance of the futsal court has been leased to a private entity under a Public Private Partnership that generates around AFN 280,000 annually in municipal revenue.

The construction of futsal pitch has given local youth a chance to practice football and play games in a safe and clean environment. It also provided 25-year-old Mohammad Samir with his dream job, training athletes. Samir currently coaches 15 football players daily and earns a monthly salary. He is now able to financially support his father, who could not afford to pay monthly rent, and he’s thinking of pursuing his higher education.

Samir expressed his appreciation.

“Football is not only my favorite game, but it also became a source of income for my family,” he said.

“The absence of a clean and modern futsal field where children and athletes could exercise and play their favorite games has been a challenge in Puli Khumri City,” Samir added.

USAID assisted construction of the sports facility as part of an initiative to support partner municipalities in the implementation of low-value public private partnerships to improve the quality of municipal services and create new sources of municipal revenue. USAID assists municipalities in building markets, parks, public baths, latrines and roads.

The partnership between the private sector and municipalities represents an estimated total value of $7.8 million (USD) investment in municipal infrastructure, facilities and services, as well as approximately 2.9 million annually in revenue for municipalities.