![‘We manage dreams’: Football club nurtures underprivileged talent in Pakistan’s Islamabad [Arab News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/POPO-FC-1160x535.jpg "‘We manage dreams’: Football club nurtures underprivileged talent in Pakistan’s Islamabad [Arab News]")
In cricket-obsessed Pakistan, POPO FC quietly nurtures football talent from poor backgrounds, offering free training, education and shelter, helping them dream of stardom, with 36 players reaching youth national sides in the past two years.
Tag: Youth development
![FIFA invites PFF to join its ‘Football for Schools’ programme [Geo Super]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FIFA-Football-for-Schools-program-for-PFF-1160x504.jpg "FIFA invites PFF to join its ‘Football for Schools’ programme [Geo Super]")
June7June 8, 2025
FIFA invites PFF to join its ‘Football for Schools’ programme [Geo Super]
FIFA has invited Pakistan to the "Football for Schools" program, providing 164,940 footballs, a $50K grant, capacity building programs, benefits for kids aged 4-14.
![Wasted opportunity: Pakistan football’s youth development crisis [Nukta]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Pakistan-at-2024-SAFF-U17-Championship-1160x535.jpg "Wasted opportunity: Pakistan football’s youth development crisis [Nukta]")
September23September 24, 2024
Wasted opportunity: Pakistan football’s youth development crisis [Nukta]
With Pakistan currently participating in SAFF U17 Championship in Bhutan, Alam Zeb Safi writes about the country's youth development crisis.
![Shining against all odds [TNS]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/JAFA-Soccer-Academy-1160x535.jpg "Shining against all odds [TNS]")
May19May 19, 2024
Shining against all odds [TNS]
Under the watch of former international footballer Javed Arab, the JAFA Soccer Academy is doing a big service by providing quality coaching free of cost to young footballers in Karachi’s Lyari locality.
![Finding Pakistan’s Mohamed Salah [TNS]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Commissioner-Karachi-Iqbal-Memon-with-Swindon-Town-FC-coaches-and-trialist-players-1160x535.jpg "Finding Pakistan’s Mohamed Salah [TNS]")
March5March 5, 2023
Finding Pakistan’s Mohamed Salah [TNS]
Coaches and officials from Swindon Town FC continue in their hunt for raw footballing talent from Pakistan in partnership with Karachi FC and Commissioner Karachi
![Prime Minister Youth Program, PFF agree on cooperation to promote football in Pakistan [The Nation]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/PFF-NC-delegation-meets-SAPM-Youth-Affairs-Shaza-Fatima-Khawaja.jpg "Prime Minister Youth Program, PFF agree on cooperation to promote football in Pakistan [The Nation]")
October21October 22, 2022
Prime Minister Youth Program, PFF agree on cooperation to promote football in Pakistan [The Nation]
PFF NC delegation met with SAPM Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja about football development cooperation and appraising her on NC's progress towards resuming national teams etc
![FOOTBALL: THE DREAMS OF POPO FC [EOS]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/POPO-FC-development-squad-with-coach-Shahzad-Anwar-and-Abdul-Basit-960x535.jpg "FOOTBALL: THE DREAMS OF POPO FC [EOS]")
February6February 6, 2022
FOOTBALL: THE DREAMS OF POPO FC [EOS]
While infighting among federations has derailed football in Pakistan, one small club in Islamabad continues to fight for its vision
![Gohar urges PFF to invest in under-15 team [The News]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/gohar-zaman-and-nasir-ismail-at-karachi-press-club.jpg "Gohar urges PFF to invest in under-15 team [The News]")
October29October 29, 2018
Gohar urges PFF to invest in under-15 team [The News]
“You know we won SAFF Under-16 Championship a few years ago but we did not work properly on those boys. That thing should not be repeated,” Gohar stressed.
![Islamabad has what it takes to set football standards for Pakistan, do you? [Express Tribune]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Total-Football-facility-Islamabad.jpg "Islamabad has what it takes to set football standards for Pakistan, do you? [Express Tribune]")
May14May 14, 2017
Islamabad has what it takes to set football standards for Pakistan, do you? [Express Tribune]
Things really took off after 2014 when Total Football ventured into the market.
![German coaches impressed by football talent at KUFC [Express Tribune]](https://footballpakistan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/German-coaches-from-Union-Berlin-training-Karachi-United-kids.jpg "German coaches impressed by football talent at KUFC [Express Tribune]")
April21April 21, 2017
German coaches impressed by football talent at KUFC [Express Tribune]
Union Berlin coaches were impressed by Karachi United but said that one club alone cannot bring about a change at national level.
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