DUBAI // Hashmatullah Sawaree travelled to the UAE this week to ask his hero, Tiger Woods, for the one thing he needs most to continue playing golf in war-torn Afghanistan: a better course.
The 20-year-old, who has already won a national tournament and competed in India, China and Bangladesh, plays on a bombed-out expanse on the outskirts of Kabul. The rocky surface means that every new shot has to be teed up.
"I want to ask Tiger Woods to come to Afghanistan to see where we play," Mr Sawaree said. "I'd like him to see for himself where we play golf. I want to ask him if he can help us improve our course."
Mr Sawaree and Mohammed Afzal Abdul, the head coach at the Kabul Golf Club, have been in Dubai attending the Omega Dubai Desert Classic - the Gulf leg of the PGA European tour known as the "Desert Swing" - at Emirates Golf Club. He has been scheduled to meet Woods some time this week.
The Kabul Golf Club was not always in such a sad state. Mr Abdul remembers a time more than 30 years ago when the course was covered in grass.
However, it was transformed into a military base for Soviet troops during the 1979 invasion. After the Taliban took over, the clubhouse was destroyed by a bomb.
"After the Russians came, everything died," said Mr Abdul, gazing out over the lush grounds of the Dubai club. "One day, we'd like to have a course like this."
Mr Sawaree and his coach were invited to Dubai after organisers for the Omega tournament spotted them on a television broadcast in November 2009. "Afghanistan and golf don't tally up very well," said Mohammed Juma bu Amaim, the vice chairman and chief executive of Golf in Dubai, which is organising the tournament.
"But there are still people there who enjoy the sport, and one of them is this kid. Hopefully by bringing them here, it will reflect in a good way back home."
mcroucher@thenational.ae
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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