By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), in collaboration with FIFA, has launched the Football for Schools programme in Pakistan, setting an ambitious target of reaching 3 million schoolchildren and distributing 162,000 footballs to more than 3,000 government schools across the country.
The landmark initiative aims to take football to the grassroots, provide children with greater access to sporting opportunities and create a sustainable pathway for developing Pakistan’s next generation of football talent.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside FIFA Football for Schools Programme Manager Antonio Sanchez, PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani said the programme marked the beginning of a major effort to promote football at the school level and bring more children into organised sports.
“We have no shortage of football talent or young people in Pakistan; what we need is to provide them with proper opportunities,” Gilani said, adding that the PFF’s objective was to promote football in schools and establish regular school-level competitions.
He said more than 50 government school teachers had already received master football training, while international coaches would also be brought to Pakistan to provide young players with training based on international standards.
Gilani further announced that the PFF, in partnership with FIFA, was launching a Football Centre of Excellence, which would be developed to international standards and feature two football pitches, providing an important platform for youth development and high-quality training.
Sanchez said the development of football in Pakistan was only at the beginning and expressed confidence in the work being undertaken by the PFF. He assured that FIFA would extend all possible support to strengthen the programme and expand football opportunities for children across the country.
He said the Football for Schools initiative was primarily focused on Pakistan’s youth and aimed to give children greater opportunities to play, learn and develop through football. He appreciated the efforts of PFF President Mohsin Gilani in promoting and developing the sport in Pakistan, assuring that FIFA stood fully behind the country’s football development.
Sanchez said the programme would initially focus on creating opportunities through school-level tournaments, coaching and structured platforms, while providing children with the skills and environment needed to develop their abilities. He added that FIFA intended to expand the project across Pakistan, stressing that the launch was only the beginning of a broader and long-term commitment to grassroots football development.
“Football talent can emerge from any country, and Pakistan is no exception. Young people simply need the right opportunities and environment to develop their abilities,” Sanchez said.
“I have felt tremendous enthusiasm for football in Pakistan within just a few days of arriving,” he added.
Sanchez said FIFA wanted to see every child playing football while ensuring that girls in Pakistan also received meaningful opportunities to participate and progress in the sport.
The Football for Schools programme is expected to give a significant boost to grassroots football, school sports, youth development and girls’ participation, while creating a broader talent pool for Pakistan’s future football teams.One editorial point: If the 3 million, 162,000 footballs and 3,000 schools figures are official figures announced at the press conference, this version is ready for publication.
