Khokhar to leave for AFC meeting today

KARACHI: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Head League Development and Media Shahid Khokhar will leave for Kuala Lumpur on Monday to attend the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Development Initiative Core Development Goal-3 Regional Commercialisation Workshop in the Malaysian capital from May 24 to 26.

The workshop will encompass wide-ranging matters relating to football development, especially commercialization, broadcasting and media rights strategy. The representatives from all South Asian nations will attend the workshop to be held at the AFC headquarters. Shahid will also meet on May 23 with the AFC’s directors to discuss with them club licensing and league development.

Club licensing and league development are important areas on which Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has already started working. Before the National Challenge Cup here early this month Shahid had conducted a club licensing seminar in order to educate the departmental and club teams top officials. This correspondent has learnt that the response of the officials of the various outfits was encouraging. It has also been learnt that the PFF in the next step will approach to the decision makers of various departments in order to enable them to fullfil the AFC club licensing regulations ahead of the Premier League which will begin in October. After that the PFF will issue them proper notices for implementation of club licensing regulations.

Club licensing will enable the departmental outfits to acquire the true status of clubs and the independent entities will then be in a good position to create fan-base, sponsors and work efficiently in players’ development.

The PFF is also eager to transform its Premier League into a semi-professional event in the coming season as different changes are on card. The last three years of inactivity due to conflict between the PFF and its rival group damaged the nation's football beyond repair.The state not only missed international events during the same time-frame but also failed to organize its Premier League for three successive seasons.