‘Pakistan football conflict should be resolved immediately’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star defender Mohammad Ahmed on Tuesday said that the country’s football conflict should be resolved immediately as it has dented the careers of players, particularly of youngsters.

“It’s unfortunate that there have been no football activities in Pakistan for the last two years because of this issue which needs to be resolved quickly,” Ahmed told ‘The News’ in an interview.

“The issue has damaged the players from two angles. It has inflicted a huge financial loss, particularly on those boys who were playing for Pakistan. And age-group teams have suffered the most as the youngsters on whom federation had spent a lot were deprived of the chance to exhibit their potential at international level in the age-group competitions,” Ahmed elaborated.

Ahmed is a professional player and has played in 2014 and 2015 seasons for Bahrain’s ISA Town FC.

“We missed two Premier Leagues and in every league a player can earn Rs400,000. And those who were playing for Pakistan had to face a huge loss of around Rs2million each. And you can imagine how they would have spent the last two years,” Ahmed added.

He was quick to add that the employed players were still fine as they had been meeting their needs through their salaries.

“But the real issue is that of the youth whose careers have been ruined,” he said.

Ahmed also lamented Pakistan’s steep downfall in world rankings. “Besides financial damage to the players, our ranking has dropped below 200 and it’s painful. Our team had started leaving impression, particularly in South Asia. At the Asian level, too, the team had started showing resolve,” the Lahore-born player said.

Ahmed said that the lay-off had pushed Pakistan way back in the sport. “You know, football is a competitive sport and when you don’t play for so long it dents the roots of your game and then it takes a lot of time in putting your system in order, getting the rhythm back and bringing cohesion,” Ahmed conceded.

The issue has also created problem for Ahmed to enter into a contract with any foreign club.

“Three months ago, I had an offer from a Mongolian club. But it was not done because before entering into such a deal a player is asked what he is doing and when he played his last game for Pakistan. And it is because of the same issue that the opportunity was lost,” he said.

He said that FIFA and AFC had an amazing contribution in Pakistan’s football development, adding, it was important to go with them.

Ahmed urged the players to know their own value. “Our players don’t know their own value. Being professionals, if they don’t raise their voice, who will fight for them? They think that they get salaries and it’s enough. I feel it’s not enough. They will have to struggle for their own rights,” he added.

Ahmed, a former WAPDA player, now represents Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in domestic competitions.

Pakistan is out of international action since April 2015 because of the conflict between the FIFA-recognised Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and Arshad Lodhi group.

Following a marathon legal proceedings, Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 2, 2017, released its verdict. However, the Supreme Court on April 6 set aside the LHC’s decision and referred the case back to the latter’s double bench with the instructions to decide it on merit.

However, the first date of hearing is still awaited. Moreover, the AFC has written a letter to FIFA, requesting it to extend the PFF’s mandate for two years.