PFF EC holds first meeting in three years

LAHORE: The Executive Committee (EC) of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Saturday met for the first time in three years at PFF headquarters, FIFA House.

Presided by PFF President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, the house discusses various ways and means for the resumption of football activities that remained suspended for three years due to political intervention in PFF affairs. Faisal later told media that PFF National Challenge Cup will mark the start of the football activities in the country.

Faisal declared it a historical day for the football community of Pakistan.

The others who attended the meeting included Syed Khadim Ali Shah, Senior V President, Madam Rubina Irfan Vice President, Sardar Naveed Haider Khan Vice President, Muhammad Jan Mari, Dr. Fazal, Col. R. Ijaz Ul Haq, Arif Rahim, Ayaz Zahoor, Anwar Qureshi and Saleem Shaikh.

Faisal said that the PFF National Challenge Cup will be followed by other domestic and international activities including Pakistan Premier League, National Women Championship, Referee and Coaching Courses while Pakistan National Football Teams will also participate in Asian Games and SAFF Championship and Women U-16 & Women U-19 SAFF Championships.

Faisal praised his companion congress members, players, coaches, referees, organisers and PFF Staff who suffered throughout this period.

He also thanked PFF lawyers late advocate Asma Jahangir and advocate Afzal Khan for their dedicated efforts that got them restored.

“I am especially thankful to Infantino Gianni, President FIFA and Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa President AFC for their support throughout the difficult times,” Faisal added.

Faisal claimed that Rs. 33 million are require for its rehabilitation of the damaged portions of the FIFA house. “We have written a letter to AFC for issuing a special grant to bring the PFF Headquarters back into its previous state,” Faisal said.

In executive committee approved the appointment of Shehzad Anwar as Director Technical PFF and Sajjad Mehmood as Director Competitions.

At this occasion, the EXCO also prayed for the souls of departed Advocate Asma Jahangir, footballers Shahlyla Baloch, Tauseef Ahmed and Nasir and PFF staff Babar Khan. President PFF announced that U-16 Women Championship will be dedicated to late Shahlyla Baloch. He also admired the services of Madam Rubina Irfan’s family (mother of late Shahlyla Baloch) while expressing PFF’s deepest sympathies to her family, for the development of football in Pakistan.

He also recounted the steps taken by the PFF for football development and sending the soft image of Pakistan in the world, the goal projects allotted to Pakistan, Leisure League 2017, in which 6-7 foreign players participated and Coca Cola FIFA Trophy Tour of Pakistan in February.

He said that those were just cosmetics events but now PFF is confident to take the football of Pakistan to new heights.