No sand, no problem: Beach soccer in landlocked Afghanistan

KABUL - At a makeshift beach in landlocked Afghanistan, children as young as eight, wearing baggy Real Madrid and Barcelona shirts with "Ronaldo" and "Messi" printed on the back, joyfully kick and chase the ball.

Kabul's Ghazi stadium was the scene of gruesome executions under Taliban rule but today it is where Afghan youths, the majority of whom have never seen the sea, dream of representing their country at beach soccer.

"I had no idea about beach soccer before I joined this program. I have never been to a beach," said 14-year-old Mudasir Yousufzai.