PFF Press Release
The above mentioned event is being organized by Pakistan Football Federation from August 08- August 12. The date of the final match has been changed from August 13 to August 12 for the Independence day’s activities in Islamabad on August 14.
In this regard Lt. Col. Ahmed Yar khan Lodhi General Secretary Pakistan Football Federation addressed a media briefing at Jinnah Stadium Islamabad to explain the salient features of the event to the media. At this occasion he was accompanied by WG. CDR. Rtd. Pervaiz Saeed Mir Director Development and Competitions Pakistan Football Federation and Dr. Fazal Ur Rehman President Islamabad Football Association.
While addressing the media Lt. Col. Ahmed Yar khan Lodhi General Secretary Pakistan Football Federation said that this is the first event at this age level in Pakistan which clearly aims at the Grass Root Football development in Pakistan. Adding more he said that despite of financial constraints, PFF even wishes to work below this age level as throughout the world wherever the football has been developed it has been a result of working at Grass Root level.
He also mentioned the 8 football academies funded by FIFA from which at Lahore, Karachi and Abbotabad are ready and at Quetta, Peshawar, Sakkar, Jacobabad and Khanewal are under construction having boarding lodging facility for at least 100 players and officials at all the academies and after the completion of these academies the country will have excellent opportunities to groom and develop the young football
playing talent.
He said that we don’t have the dearth of football talent and PFF is making its best efforts to hunt it wherever it lies in the
country. The General Secretary PFF also referred to the statement of Holger Obermann, a German who is FIFA’s overseas development coach, issued during his visit to Pakistan few years back saying that this country does not lack football playing talent. About vision 2022 of PFF to qualify for FIFA World Cup, he said that although it is difficult but quite achievable and in this regard he also mentioned the examples of Korea.
He added more that at youth level the improvement in Pakistan’s football is visible as some years ago we lost Iran by 11 Goals but now we are competing them and lost although but only 1-0 while also played a draw against Iran. The National Football Team will be selected through this event which will participate in Iran Football Festival which will give tremendous International exposure to Pakistani young football Players.
In the end he appealed to the Government and corporate sector of Pakistan to come forward and support the productive initiatives taken by Pakistan Football Federation for the Development of the global game of Football in Pakistan.
Following are the teams participating in the event:-
3 Provincial Teams: Punjab, Sindh & Khyber Pakhton Khwa
4 Regional Teams: Islamabad, FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK
A managers meeting of the participating teams was also held following the
press briefing at Jinnah stadium Islamabad.