UAE | General

Dangerous games people play

The dangerous games see footballs fly into traffic as young players give chase on busy streets

  • By Faisal Masudi, Staff Reporter, XPRESS
  • Published: 00:00 February 2, 2012
  • XPRESS

  • Image Credit: © XPRESS / Virendra Saklani
  • Motorists have had to take evasive action to avoid hitting boys running after a ball. Two boys were run over last year and it could get worse if action is not taken soon
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Sharjah: Children and teenagers are risking deadly accidents by holding roadside sports matches in Sharjah, where at least two boys were run over last year.

The dangerous games see footballs fly into traffic as young players give chase on busy streets, while alarmed motorists try dodging them. The matches are held on roundabouts, interchanges and footpaths in the evenings.

The games are an accident waiting to happen, motorists and pedestrians said.

Last October a boy aged three was killed after playing in an open area when a car reversed into him. And in August 2011 an unattended four-year-old was run over as he walked onto a main road.

Police patrols can occasionally be seen driving past the matches — it is not clear what action is being taken to stop the games.

"Someone is going to get hurt. I've had to zigzag my car to avoid collisions, they just dash across the road," an Indian driver said.

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But players said they have nowhere else to go. "I know it's wrong, but there are no parks, stadiums, or sports clubs around. We can't stay indoors all day; we do our best to keep the matches under control," said a teenage footballer.

Makeshift pitches

The makeshift pitches are usually found on a roundabout near the Chamber of Commerce building, the Khalidiya Bridge interchange, and the Al Khan lagoon pavement near Al Qasba.

Dedicated spaces for sports have been set aside in some public parks, but visitors complain they are always full.

"The grounds in Al Khalidiya and Al Safeah Park are hardly ever free. The first ones there are also the last ones to leave. There's no proper booking system," another player said.

Comments (10)

How can authorities deal with this problem? Have you come across similar scenes in Dubai?

  1. Added 14:22 February 2, 2012

    Last December the same thing happened to me. I was driving from Sharjah to Dubai and some teenagers were playing football and the ball suddenly flew on to the road. A teenager came running towards the road chasing the ball and was about to be hit by my vehicle. Fortunately, I changed the track fast and stopped for in five seconds. It's God's grace that nothing happened to the teenager. The impact of my sudden break resulted in other motorists coming to a screeching halt. This type of game should be stopped immediately, or otherwise innocent drivers like me will become culprits and parents will lose their children.

    SN, Sharjah, India

  2. Added 14:17 February 2, 2012

    The authorities must fine people if they are on roads meant for cars!

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 12:56 February 2, 2012

    We always hold our child’s hand when he’s near cars. We must teach our children about road safety, including how to be safe around parked cars and on footpaths and driveways. I request every single parent to teach their children not to play near roundabouts or main roads. They must play only in designated play areas.

    Naqibullah Sharif, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 12:50 February 2, 2012

    Authorities must fence off play areas with nets so that the balls do not go on to the road. In fact, dangerous parks must be demolished to save people's lives and make roads safee for drivers.

    Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  5. Added 11:20 February 2, 2012

    It has happened to me a lot of times, especially at night. People cross roads where there are no pedestrian crossings --sometimes they come from nowhere right in the middle of fast moving traffic. Few people don't not even bother to see what's coming towards them. They just keep on crossing the road. In addition to strict fines and punishment by authorities, people must learn to be safe. It is not possible to achieve full road safety without our own realisation.

    Adeel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  6. Added 09:23 February 2, 2012

    We should make sure that children play in parks and authorities must therefore make an effort to build more parks.

    Anonymous, shj, United Arab Emirates

  7. Added 09:07 February 2, 2012

    Actually, I don't blame them doing so. As a teenager said once that there are no places to play. Like AL Ain, every neighborhood in Dubai needs a playground.

    Mansour, Ahmed, United Arab Emirates

  8. Added 08:40 February 2, 2012

    Some of the road-safety measures that can be taken are: 1. Put up 'no games' signboards 2. Alert drivers with road signs to be aware of errant players 3. Fines 4. Punish violators with community service 5. Introduce a road safety subject at schools and universities 6. Launch a helpline to inform if such cases are noticed

    hadiimrana, shj, United Arab Emirates

  9. Added 01:27 February 2, 2012

    As the saying goes all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy -- so authorities should realise that it's only in our youthful days we all long to play various sports. Once you pass this age, you cannot get it back. So more playgrounds for football, jogging, cricket etc should be built in all locations in the UAE.

    Anonymous, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

  10. Added 22:59 February 1, 2012

    Children these days not only play and run on roads, but also think that pavements are sporting grounds for various games. I have been living in karama for many years and am happy that there are a lot of children who like to play outdoor games with their friends after school hours, especially because we hear many complaints that children are spending a lot of time on various kinds of technology and not enough time outside. However, I have seen a lot of children playing on the pavements which can be dangerous. This mostly happens during the evening time, as most children like to sweat it out by playing various kinds of sports. But they show a lack of concern for residents living nearby. After office hours, one finds many residents hunting for a place to park, as parking in Karama can be a nightmare. Out of frustration, they tend to drive fast and have to dodge these youngsters who keep playing right in the middle of the road. This is not to mention the fact that they even pass the football back and forth to each other while they are all running together on the main road. Additionally, they spoil the walls of new buildings by kicking the ball — it also hits some passers-by. On many occasions, I have seen these youngsters sitting on the bonnets of cars with their dirty feet. Parents need to keep an eye on their children and ensure that they are safe. Children need to play outside after long hours at school, but they should not convert pavements into playgrounds, as there are often vehicles parked nearby, which may get damaged. I feel that this issue has to be taken seriously and I hope the authorities pay heed and put a stop to this. There should be signboards displayed as part of an awareness campaign so that children are not allowed to play on pavements. We also need more parks in residential areas so that children are free to enjoy themselves rather than disturb the neighbourhood. Karama is ‘home sweet home' for many of us, especially those who have been living in the country for many years. The authorities just need to look into a few issues such as this, so that the residents are well-protected.

    Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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