Haider requests PM, and COAS take steps to save the football in country

Abdul Jabbar Faisal

ISLAMABAD: Former Vice President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Sardar Naveed Haider has requested Prime Minister (PM) Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Asim Munir to take steps to save the game of football in the country, as also challenged Chairman Normalization Committee (NC) Haroon Malik for debate on football issues.

While addressing a press conference at a local hotel here on Thursday, Haider further demanded that PFF elections be held within three months, which is a constitutional need. “We want promotion of soccer in the country, as at present the standard of football is declining day by day owing to poor policies of the NC administration. Except for Shahid Khokhar rest of all office holders do not know the basics of football, “he lamented.

“Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) should communicate to the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) about the dismal performance and small football activities, which are not fruitful for Pakistan’s football, as the NC officials are drawing mammoth salary packages and doing nothing. They did not give occasion to upcoming Pakistani lads and gave preference to overseas Pakistani male and female footballs, “he added.

He said, “The normalization committee has ignored the local talent. Millions of dollars have been spent on the women's team for a friendly match in Singapore, as some girls did not have Pakistani passports, and they participated in international tournaments without permission (NOC) from the government, which is the law of the land. Local football in Pakistan has ended, the system of football in Pakistan must be put on track now, Haroon Malik is also misleading the National Standing Committee on IPC by submitting a false report, “he alleged.

While replying to a question Sardar Naveed said that the federal government had invited NC officials for a meeting last September to dig out the facts regarding FIFA’s recommendations. “Now, NC wants to give voting rights to selected clubs, as the original soccer nursery is the club that is overlooked. According to the constitution of PFF a club first gets the right of playing for 2 years and after analyzing its activities that club gets voting right. There are around five thousand active football clubs across the country. The Premier Football League could not be held in the country for four years. Also, the Normalization Committee failed to organize national events, “he concluded.

Also, Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Veterans Mian Mohammad Abbas, Chairman of District Football Rawalpindi Raja Ishtiaq, Ex-international player Mohammad Imtiaz Butt, Ex-international player Mohammad Amjad Chowdhary, Ex-international player Tahir Perwaz, Zafar Pirzada (PTV), and other officials were present in the press conference.