The death of legendary Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Media Manager and veteran journalist Syed Akber Ali Wahidi on 24 April 2011 in Faisalabad has truly shocked the football fraternity of Pakistan. But the great tragedy has hit home the most with Akber Wahidi leaving behind a grieving widow and a young teenage son Ahmed Wahidi.
In this tense and heart breaking situation, the PFF has shown great compassion and leadership in vowing to support the Wahidi family by all means necessary. The decision by PFF President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat to give a Rs 100,000 donation to the Wahidi family and to provide a monthly stipend of Rs 25,000 for helping Ahmed Wahidi complete his education has warmed the hearts of many people; most notably that of veteran journalist and Akber Wahidi’s own protege, Riaz Ahmed.
He praised the PFF supremo, who is also a high ranking MNA as well as Chairman of the AFC Legal & Judicial Committee and member of FIFA Judicial Committee, for showing great support and solidarity with the mourning family of Akber Wahidi. Riaz Ahmed, who had a very close personal friendship with the late Wahidi, felt that such a step to support the family will help make the legacy of the deceased PFF Media Manager become immortal and help his young son establish himself in the near future.
Many other people praised the step taken by PFF President. The new Sindh FA President Syed Khadim Ali Shah, and SFA members M. Iqbal, Azam Khan, Mir Yaqoob Ali Shah, Fateh Muhammad Baloch, as well as Ali Bahar Brohi, Rahim Bakhsh, Abdul Malik Khan, Ali Nawaz Baloch, Yaqoob Baloch, Master Riasat Ali, the deceased’s family members and close friends all applauded PFF President’s solidarity with the late Akber Wahidi.