Lahore, 5 May: The launching of UMT Football Academy (UMTFA) is due to take place on 10 May 2010. It is a branch of Model Town Football Academy (MTFA), aims to provide children with the training and coaching that will not only build their self-confidence and improve level of play, but also ensure that he enjoy playing the world’s greatest game. This is stated by MTFA President Mian Rizwan Ali.
Located inside University of Management and Technology (UMT) at Johar Town C-Block near Ghosia Chowk, UMTFA will be ideal for children with no previous experience at soccer, children who would like to play soccer in a friendly uncompetitive environment, children who would like to develop their soccer skills before entering Club competitive environments, children who already belong to Soccer Clubs who would like to develop their soccer skills by utilising the services of highly qualfiied and experienced coaches,” said UMT Founder Rector Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad who along with Mian Rizwan Ali and UMT’s Executive Director Abid H.K. Shirwani played massive role in discovering Football Academy.
Johar Town, named after famous leader in independence movement Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, is located in the south of Lahore on the map, neighbouring the motorway M-2. It is the largest residential society of Lahore developed by Lahore Development Authority, providing a very good housing opportunity for the upper middle class people. But there is no sporting facilities in the area and residents appreciated the emergence of UMTFA and appreciated Rizwan’s effort for healthy atmosphere in the area who saddled himself with the responsibility of developing football from the grassroots in Lahore, with the grassroots being the major target.
“The aim of our Football Academy is to provide all players in Pakistan, with the opportunity to train within an environment that is on par with the top academies in leading football nations such as England, Spain, Brazil and Germany,” said Abid who added that UMTFA is comprised of Administrative Block, flood-lit FIFA-approved pitch equipped with team’s and Technical Officials dug-out, Parking Zone and facilities of Canteen and Security personnel etc.
Manager of PFF XI in 2007, Rizwan pointed out that in Europe and South America, they have Academies to nurture young talent while the irony in Pakistan is that the football teams do not have their own infrastructure.” Trainees will be scouted through a systematic talent identification process before being given the chance to develop their skills under well-reputed coaches in the country. With teams at four Age-groups from Age four to Under-18, the UMTFA, just like MTFA, represents the future of Pakistani football. The entire operation is geared towards producing players of outstanding football ability as well as aiding their physiological, psychological and academic growth,” concluded Rizwan.