Siddiq appointed PFF Secretary General

KARACHI: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) coach Siddiq Sheikh was on Monday appointed as Secretary General of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

The decision to bring former Habib Bank coach for the coveted post was made by the newly-elected PFF Executive Committee which met at its headquarters in Lahore on Monday.Siddiq served as Director Youth Development and Grassroots with the FIFA-recognised PFF headed by Faisal Saleh Hayat a few years ago.

Karachi-based Siddiq started working on Monday.In the meeting various committees were also constituted.The PFF Vice-President Naved Haider told ‘The News’ that they wanted to have a skilled man as Secretary General which they found in Siddiq.

Naved said that Siddiq is a committed individual and will effectively run the PFF affairs.To a query, Naved said that Siddiq will be relieved by his department as acting as PFF Secretary would need a great effort and it was a full-time job.

According to Naved, it was also decided in the meeting that various events of both men and women will be conducted this year.“A B-Division league will also be held,” he said.

He added that the PFF wanted to take the sport to every nook and cranny of the country.“We have decided to take the game to every city so that it could be popularised.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the same PFF was formed last year under the instructions of the Supreme Court. Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah heads the body which is not recognised by the world football governing body (FIFA).

FIFA recognises Faisal Saleh Hayat-led PFF.

Ashfaq-led PFF can run football at the domestic level. But Pakistan’s international participation seems to be in a limbo with the national under-22 side on brink of missing out the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Championships Qualifiers which will be held in Uzbekistan later this month.

Faisal-led body had already handed over the PFF headquarters and accounts to the Ashfaq-led body under the instructions of the apex court.

Faisal’s PFF has filed a review petition in the apex court. Meanwhile, Faisal is set to become the AFC vice-president unopposed in the continental body’s elections to be held on April 6 at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

FIFA Member Association Committee is more likely to take up Pakistan’s issue in its meeting in early April.