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FOOTBALL - Int News 07 Jun, 2024

PFF fails to set an International Standard Media Enclosure

Senior journalists ask FIFA, and AFC to take notice of PFF’s negligence and ignorance Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) failed to provide basic media facilities to journalists during the coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan at the Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on June 6, 2024.PFF issued over 100 accreditation cards to the media persons of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad including reporters and photographers, as there were merely 30 to 35 media persons to cover the prestigious match of Pakistan football history.There were no basic needs of a reporter like a desk or a table to put a laptop on to make a story comfortably during the match. Just chairs were not enough to work in a media enclosure. The chairs were fixed very close and the men were not able to move, and the shoulders were brushing with each other. There was no electricity cable available to recharge the laptops during the game. While talking to this scribe, the senior journalists asked FIFA, and AFC to take notice of this negligence and ignorance.Shakil Awan, a senior sports journalist from Daily Jang, a highly circulated newspaper in Pakistan said that the federation neglected the media during the mega soccer match. Media persons were deprived of facilities and there were no responsible persons to provide information about players and officials. “They distributed players and officials lists after the match on WhatsApp, as it was needed in starting to create a piece of informative and solid news. The working of PFF officials was not appreciable. Top football bodies should take notice, “he lamented.Former president of the National Press Club (NPC), and senior sports journalist, Sharyar Khan said: “Internet facilities are fundamental needs of media persons to keep in touch back in the office to update the ongoing situation and PFF did not care about this, as we were given user-name and password but the system was not actively working that was huge hurdle to share the information with news desks in time. It is fair and square to say that all arrangements and competition were mismanaged. A big team was here and we should make extraordinary preparations for this historical fixture.”Nasir Abbas Naqvi, a senior staff reporter from Daily Ausaf said: “Internet was the basic need of the journalists especially for electronic media but PFF officials are not professionals and they did not manage the basic facilities for the media areas in the Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on June 6, 2024, during the Pakistan versus Saudi Arabia football match.” Editor Note: Sports Bulletin will welcome any response from any official of the Pakistan Football Federation

FOOTBALL - Int News 07 Jun, 2024

FIFA World Cup qualifier: Saudi Arabia oust Pakistan 3-0

Firas Tariq's 2 goals lead Saudi Arabia to a comprehensive victoryAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The high-ranked soccer team Saudi Arabia toyed low-ranked hosts Pakistan 3-0 in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier at the Jinnah Football Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Thursday night.Firas Tariq Nasser Al-Buraikan scored the first goal for Saudi Arabia in the 26th minute. After fifteen minutes, the Saudi footballer netted another one, giving the visitors a 2-0 edge over the hosts after the first 45-minute half.However, their efforts were thwarted when Saudi Arabia’s Musab Fahd Al-Juwayr netted the third goal of the match in the 51st minute of the match. Pakistan are bottom-placed at Group G of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The South Asian team lost to Saudi football team 4-0 in the first leg of the qualifying matches when they faced off in Al Ahsa. The green shirts will face Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe in what will be their final round 2 away fixture.

FOOTBALL - Int News 05 Jun, 2024

FIFA World Cup Qualifier: Pakistan to face Saudi Arabia on June 6

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD (June 5, 2024): Hosts Pakistan will collide with giant Saudi Arabia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Round-II match on Thursday (June 6, 2024) here at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex under the floodlights, as the visiting team officials are yet to assemble the best squad for the competitions.Soon after the press conference of the coaches of both teams, the reporter contacted the media official of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Mohammad Yashal for the names of Saudi Arabia team players he told this scribe that they had not finalized the list of players and they would provide tomorrow (Thursday).The coaches and captains of both teams were optimistic during the press conference, determined to play positive games, and would try their best to win. Pakistan Squad: Yousuf Butt, Saqib Hanif, Hassan Ali (Goalkeepers), Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal, Haseeb Khan, Rao Omer Hayat, Mamoon Moosa, Mohammad Saddam, Waqar Ihtisham, Moin Ahmed, Abdul Rehman (Defenders), Rahis Nabi, Otis Khan, Ali Uzair, Umair Ali, Toqeer ul Hassan, Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Zafar (Midfielders). Imran Kayani, McKeal Abdulah, Fareedulah, Adeel Younas, Shayak Dost (Forwards).

FOOTBALL - Int News 30 May, 2024

Roshn Saudi League 2023-24: A Game-Changing Season

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): In a new era for Saudi Arabia football, the 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League proved a game-changing season - with more goals, interest, and growth for the league than ever before.Omar Mugharbel, Saudi Pro League CEO, said: “The 2023/24 Roshn Saudi League season will be remembered as a milestone moment in the growth of elite football in Saudi Arabia. Some of the best players in the world chose the Roshn Saudi League to showcase their incredible talents alongside the next generation of young Saudi talent. Their arrival amplified even further the huge interest in the league from fans, broadcasters and sponsors. It is impossible to overstate how much of a game-changing season 2023/24 has been.”On the pitch, champions Al Hilal created football history, and global headlines, by setting a world, top-flight record for the number of successive victories – winning 34 games in a row across all competitions in an unbeaten campaign.Cristiano Ronaldo built on his success in calendar year 2023, where he netted the most club goals in the world with 54 in 59 appearances and also set a record for most goals scored in a season. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who made his Al Nassr debut in January 2023, scored an incredible 35 goals from 31 Roshn Saudi League matches in the 2023/24 campaign. In the most entertaining season of the modern era a total of 909 goals were scored – an increase of 40% from last year’s campaign.The season began with major internationals signings such as Karim Benzema, Neymar, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, N’Golo Kante, Georgino Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves attracting 156 players from 54 countries that have been part Roshn Saudi League. With a focus on developing young Saudi talent to excel on the global stage, the age eligibility for young players was reduced from 18 to 16 years old with the average age of players season dropping to 27.5 years old.Off the pitch, the transformation of the league generated even wider global attention. These were reflected in major milestones achieved across metrics such as broadcast deals, sponsorship agreements, and social media reach. More than 160 countries broadcast the Roshn Saudi League on 38 global platforms taking the league to more football fans than ever before. Digitally the Roshn Saudi League social media channels grew with 6.72 million new followers, representing a 141% increase from the start of the season.

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