CFL signs Waseem as brand ambassador

KARACHI: The world flyweight boxing champion Mohammad Waseem was on Friday signed as brand ambassador of the Classic Football League (CFL) which will be held here soon after the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

It was formally announced at a press conference here at the PSB Coaching Centre. The CFL Director Shahid Khokhar, Sindh Football Association’s (SFA) secretary Rahim Bux Baloch, vice-president of Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) Iqbal Hussain, Pakistan’s boxing coach Ali Bakhsh, Pakistan Volleyball Federation’s (PVF) secretary Shah Naeem Zafar and renowned sports organiser Ghulam Mohammad Khan were also present.

Speaking on the occasion, the current World Boxing Council (WBC) World No1 Waseem said that he was happy to have been made brand ambassador of the CFL.“I will support it. I have close connection with football as it is a game which is played across the world,” the 30-year-old Quetta-born boxer said.

However, he was quick to add that football deserved more support in Pakistan. He said that it would be a great moment when Pakistan would become able to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.He said he would fight against Japan’s Daigo Higa for the world crown in May.

“I will win that fight and will return to support the CFL,” said Waseem. This is the first time that Waseem has been signed on as brand ambassador for any football event in the country.Last year, Peshawar Zalmi had signed on Waseem as its brand ambassador for the Pakistan’s professional T20 league, the PSL.

This year Waseem, nick-named Falcon, has been signed on by Quetta Gladiators for the PSL-III to begin later this month in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Meanwhile, Shahid Khokar said that it will be a franchise-based league, the first of its kind in the country.

“It will be similar in structure to the PSL. In the first season five teams, four in the names of provinces, and one in the name of any other region, will be formed. The franchises will be up for sale and teams will be picked through a draft system,” Shahid conceded.

“The players will be picked under three categories, platinum, diamond and emerging. The registration of players has already been completed for the platinum category which will carry international players. The diamond will include national players, while emerging pool will contain upcoming talent which will be picked through the country-wide trials for which a selection committee has already been constituted,” Shahid informed.

He claimed that it would be a productive event, adding top response from corporate sector has been received.To a query, Shahid said that if Pakistan’s football conflict was resolved then the CFL would act as feeder-league for the Premier League.