PFF Press Release
3rd SAFF women Football Championship will be held at Jinnah Sports Complex (Football Stadium) Islamabad from November 11- 20, 2014.
In this regard a press conference was held today on November 8th, 2014. Lt. Col. Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi General Secretary Pakistan Football Federation addressed the media accompanied by Senator Mrs. Rubina Irfan Chairperson Women Committee Pakistan Football Federation and Wing CDR Retd Pervaiz Saeed Mir Dir Dev. & Comp, Organizing Secretary SAFF Championship.
Salient features of this Mega International event were detailed at this occasion. General Secretary told the media that this is the largest ever women football event in Pakistan in which all 8 SAARC region countries are participating including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and host Pakistan are participating. All the teams have confirmed their participation. Afghanistan women team has already arrived. Other teams Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal are expected to arrive tonight and rest will come tomorrow hopefully. 240 players & officials are participating in the event.
It will be benefiting for not only football but for all other sports also which will create a soft image of Pakistan in the rest of the world. PTV will show all matches Live. This event will change the radical perception of Pakistan about the gender discrimination.
The happening of this mega International event is mainly due to the personal efforts of Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat President Pakistan Football Federation who has developed very strong friendly ties between Pakistan Football Federation and other Football Federations of other countries due to which all 8 SAARC country women football teams are coming to Pakistan at a time when Pakistan had become no go area for International sports events.
At this occasion he also thanked Govt. of Pakistan, Minister IPC Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, DG Sports Board Dr. Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera D.G sports board have helped in all matters. He also mentioned in particular the efforts of Senator Rubina Irfan Chairperson Women Committee PFF she did to facilitate the teams.
He further said that Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada IPC Minister will inaugurate the event on Nov 11, 2014 at Jinnah Sports Complex Islamabad. He also praised the rule of PFF Marketing Department to engage the corporate sector in this huge event and named Sardar Naveed Haider Khan Consultant Marketing PFF and Fahad Ayaz Khan Manager Marketing PFF for their efforts in this regard.
Chief Guest in the Closing ceremony will be His Excellency Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-khalifa President Asian Football Federation which is another honor for Pakistan. Draws will be announced at 1.30 on 10th November in Managers meeting. He also said that we have shifted the event from Lhr to Islamabad due to the support of Govt. He also said that we are inviting maximum people to come in the stadium to watch the matches. We have made fool proof security arrangements for all the teams during their stay till departure.
Senator Mrs. Rubina Irfan Chairperson Women Committee Pakistan Football Federation told the media that Our team is young and we are expecting a very good performance by our team.