Leading players to feature in Classic Football League

KARACHI: The organisers of the Classic Football League (CFL) on Thursday said that they have got NOCs of the leading players of the country who will be put in platinum category of the event which is expected to be held at Karachi in August.

“This category comprises the players who represented Pakistan at international level,” the organizers said in a press release. “This franchise model league will see young players from all over the country representing their teams which would be named after the prominent regions,” the organisers said. Chairman CFL Haider Ali Daud Khan has said that CFL will cater to the needs of a modern football league required for genuine development of the game in the country.

“The CFL aims at the promotion of football at the grassroots level and the development of players in Pakistan. At the same time it provides a perfect branding opportunity to its corporate stakeholders” Haider said. He also revealed that CFL will not just be an event, rather it will be a continuous engagement where nursery of junior and upcoming talent shall be developed on one side while providing national and international openings for senior players and strengthening of football clubs through several development projects throughout the year on the other.

Meanwhile CFL Director Shahid Khokhar said,” “Players participating in CFL are classified into platinum, diamond, gold and emerging categories. Platinum category will carry only those players who have represented Pakistan at international level. They will be included in the pool directly. The players for the rest of categories will be chosen through a well-propagated and transparent selection process to be carried out nationwide” Shahid said. The move of holding CFL has elated Pakistan’s experienced defender Muhammad Ahmed. “I am very happy to learn that a franchise-based model football league is being launched in Pakistan. It will definitely give heroes to the country. It will also raise the confidence of the corporate sector towards the sport,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed also has the experience of playing in Bahrain’s second-tier league. Pakistan’s promising striker Mansoor Khan said that not only he but every footballer was excited. “This is a big news for all the players and we are eagerly looking forward to take part in this event.”