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FOOTBALL - Int News 20 May, 2024

SAFF, CAF women’s football development workshop concludes

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has concluded a five-day educational workshop focusing on women’s football. The aim was to develop and empower coaches from Saudi Arabia and Africa. In partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Riyadh-based workshop ran from 14 - 18 May with a total of 32 coaches, 16 African coaches from 13 CAF member associations participating alongside 16 coaches from local sports clubs, regional training centers, and the Saudi Arabian Women’s National Teams.Lamia Bahaian, Vice President of SAFF, said: "The success of this event demonstrates our commitment to fostering the growth and development of women's football both in Saudi Arabia and across Africa. Through these collaborative efforts, we aim to create a strong network of coaches who can share their experiences, support one another, and contribute to the global advancement of women's football. The enthusiasm and dedication shown by the participants have been truly inspiring, and we are confident that their influence will be felt on and off the field."

FOOTBALL - National 20 May, 2024

National football team training camp kicks off in Islamabad

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Pakistan national football team has started an intensive training camp in Islalamabd as the national side gears up for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Round 2 home match against Saudi Arabia on June 6 in Islamabad followed by an away match in Tajikistan on June 11.Head coach Stephen Constantine is leading the team's efforts, focusing on refining their skills and tactics for the encounter against one of the football powerhouses (Saudi Arabia). Goalkeeping coaches Rogerio Ramos and Noman Ibrahim have been dedicating their efforts to the goalkeepers, while fitness coach Claudio Altieri is ensuring peak performance in preparation for the crucial match.Names of Pakistani players:Goalkeepers: Hassan Ali, Tanveer Ahmed Defenders: Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Huzaifa, Waqar Ihtisham, Abdul Rehman, Umar Hayat, Mohammad Adeel, Mohammad Saddam, Zain ul AbideenMidfielders: Yasir Arafat, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Rajab Ali, Moin Ali, Junaid Ahmed and FahimForwards: Adeel Younas, Shayak Dost, Ali Zafar and Fareedullah.The names of diaspora players who will join the national training camp later will be included in the final squad.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 15 May, 2024

FIFA appoints working group to recommend rule changes

ISLAMABAD (Sports Desk): The FIFA Council today approved the formation of a working group to gather further information and issue recommendations to the Council regarding potential amendments to the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches (FRGIM).The working group will consist of 10 to 15 members from a variety of different football stakeholders, including representatives from member associations, confederations, clubs, leagues, players, supporter organisations, and also private entities engaged in organising international matches or competitions. The FIFA Council anticipates that the working group will make its recommendations in the following months.The primary objective of the working group will be to study the FRGIM and the press release issued following the October 2018 FIFA Council meeting regarding out-of-territory matches (cf. art 8.2 of the FRGIM), and to consider a revised legal framework at FIFA level dealing with i) rules, procedures and processes for authorising interclub football matches or competitions, and ii) criteria to be applied for authorising such matches or competitions. While the working group will independently formulate its own recommendations, the FIFA Council has requested that it base its proposals on the principles of transparency, objectivity, non-discrimination and proportionality, taking into account the following, non-exhaustive factors in making its recommendations:Fairness, including adequacy of advance notice to fans who may miss the opportunity to attend a home or away match in the home territory. Whether adequate provision has been made for fans of the teams playing a proposed out-of-territory match to attend the match in the host country.

FOOTBALL - National 11 May, 2024

National Challenge Cup: WAPDA, SA Garden to meet in final on Sunday

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: SA Garden, and WAPDA set to meet in the final of the National Challenge Cup 2023 on Sunday (May 12, 2024) at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. The match will be played under floodlights, as the contest will kick-off at 8:30 pm.In the first semi-final, SA Garden overcame HEC in a tense penalty shootout, securing a 3-2 victory. Despite two additional 15-minute periods after regulation time, the match remained deadlocked. SA Garden's goalkeeper, Salman Kaka, emerged as a hero with a crucial save during the penalty shootout, propelling his team into the final.

FOOTBALL - National 05 May, 2024

Army, HEC, Navy, KRL qualify for Quarterfinals of NCC 2023 final round

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army and Higher Education Commission (HEC) from Group A, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), and the Pakistan Navy from Group B have advanced to the Quarterfinals of the 2023 National Challenge Cup (NCC).Four matches were played on the fifth day of the National Challenge Cup (NCC) 2023 final round at Jinnah Sports Complex, Islamabad.In the first match, the Pakistan Army emerged triumphant against NIMSO with a 3-0 win, courtesy of Anees's two goals and Hassan's one. In the second match, Pakistan Navy secured a 3-0 victory over SA Farms. Nauman, Farhanullah and Naveed contributed with one goal each.In the third match, HEC beat PACA with 1-0. The only goal of the match was scored by Haleem. In the fourth match, KRL edged past Masha United with a scoreline of 4-0. Shahzaib, Najeebullah, Waheed and Ali Agha scored a piece for KRL.

FOOTBALL - National 30 Apr, 2024

National Challenge Cup 2023 Final Round resumes on May 1

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The final round of the National Challenge Cup (NCC) 2023, being organized by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), is set to kick off on Thursday (May 1 2024) at the Jinnah Sports Complex Islamabad.The group stage matches will take place from May 1 to 6 with each team competing in (03) matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for May 7 and 8 followed by the semi-finals on May 10 while the final will take place on May 12. The participating teams have been divided into four groups, with each group comprising four teams.Groups:Group A: PACA, Pakistan Army, NIMSO and HECGroup B: KRL, Pakistan Navy, SA Farms and Masha UnitedGroup C: Otto Crains, Wapda, WSTC and Pakistan PoliceGroup D: PAF, Asia Ghee Mills, SA Gardens and Pakistan Railway

FOOTBALL - Clubs & Schools 27 Apr, 2024

Bagh Gulzar beat Sufyan Club 3-1 to Clinch District Football League Final

Sports DeskPESHAWAR: The Peshawar District Football League concluded with Bagh Gulzar Football Club emerging as champions after a thrilling final match against Sufyan Football Club. The event, graced by esteemed guests including Deputy Commissioner Swabi Mohammad Ali Shah, SSP Niaz Muhammad Khan Yousafzai, and District Football Association Secretary Shakeelur Rehman Tofan, saw players from various registered clubs showcasing their talent at the Zarubi Football Ground.In a fiercely contested final held yesterday, Bagh Gulzar Club secured victory over their rivals, Sufyan Football Club, with a scoreline of 3-1. Addressing the closing ceremony, Shakilur Rahman Tofan, Secretary General of the District Swabi Football Association, expressed their commitment to collaborate with the Pakistan Federation and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Football Association to elevate the status of football in Swabi.Tofan pledged to provide essential equipment such as balls and bags to players to enhance their performance, emphasizing the abundance of talent in Swabi. He stressed the need to level the playing field by bringing local clubs on par with those in Peshawar, Punjab, and other cities across the country. Tofan also urged the Deputy Commissioner Swabi to extend support to football players in the region.

FOOTBALL - Int News 25 Apr, 2024

Steven Gerrard discusses football, family, and future aspirations

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): In an exclusive interview with the Roshn Saudi League (RSL), Al Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard shared his perspectives on various aspects of his life and career. Gerrard, while a notable figure in football, spoke about alternative careers, advice for young players, family life, and his views on leadership and legacy.Gerrard opened up about other potential career paths outside football management: "I am very much into sport so I would’ve tried to stay in some sport in some capacity and tried to get a job related to football or maybe related to a different sport. Because growing up all I wanted to do was watch sport on TV, do sport at school, so I’m very sport orientated."For young athletes dreaming of a career in football, Gerrard's advice is simple yet profound: "Dream big, picture a dream and then work as hard as you can every single day to improve, to listen to the right people and every day be extremely motivated and dedicated to reach your dream. I think football is about dreams and memories and experiences so my advice to them is set a dream, set a target and then every single day maximize the opportunities to get better to learn and to grow and to improve your skills and reach for the stars."Gerrard also shared insights into his personal life, particularly his role as a father: "When I am not at work or at football I am very much family orientated. I have 3 daughters and 1 son so I am always taking them to different places, always playing football in the garden with my son or taking him to football so I am probably a taxi or an uber driver for a lot of the times and also taking them to school, picking them up from school, doing homework and if I get a small bit of time to myself I like to spend it with my friends."When asked about his top three footballers Gerrard's choices reflect his admiration for both the legends and contemporaries of the game: "I would pick Zinedine Zidane because he was my hero growing up. In my generation, he was the best midfielder in the world so I’d pick Zinedine Zidane and also the two best players in my generation by far were Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, so they’d be the three I’d pick."Regarding how he wants to be remembered, Gerrard expressed a desire for others to see his commitment and teamwork: "I want to be remembered for someone who gave everything in terms of 100% every single day. I was loyal, I was a fighter, I wanted to give all my energy and my efforts for the team that I represented and I was a team player so I want to be remembered for them values."Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq currently sit in 7th place in the RSL and are set to face Al Raed in their next RSL fixture on Saturday, 27th April 2024. (Press Release)

FOOTBALL - National 19 Apr, 2024

National Women's Football Championship 2024 postponed

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Friday that the postponement PFF National Women's Football Championship 2024 has been postponed, originally scheduled to kick-off on May 5, 2024 in Karachi.According to an official of PFF, the decision comes in response to feedback from representatives of various clubs, who expressed concerns regarding potential clashes between the championship schedule and the academic commitments of their players.In light of these considerations, the PFF has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the event. However, the revised schedule for the National Women's Football Championship 2024 will be announced in due course, following further consultation with club representatives and careful consideration of all relevant factors.

FOOTBALL - National 09 Apr, 2024

National Women's Football Championship starts on May 5

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: The National Women’s Football Championship (NWFC) is set to commence on May 5, 2024 in Karachi. The clubs that have registered by December 2023 will be eligible to participate in the extravaganza, showcasing the passion for women's football across Pakistan.Being organized by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), the championship will see the participating teams divided into four groups. With the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. The championship will culminate in a finale scheduled to take place on May 21, 2024, where the top contenders will vie for the coveted title of champions.