By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, FEB 16: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani has expressed optimism about steering the federation away from years of crisis and revitalising football in the country.
The PFF president was speaking a day after the conclusion of the National Challenge Cup. “Since I took over, our aim has been to put better systems in place to ensure the growth of football in the country,” Gilani said.
The PFF chief emphasised that he is the first elected president after the federation spent several years under a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee.
Mohsen Gilani highlighted several key initiatives undertaken by the PFF since his election, notably the men’s national team’s maiden participation in the AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers, the upcoming FIFA Series — where the national women’s team will feature — as well as the Under-16 team’s tour of Kazakhstan to compete in a UEFA development tournament.
“The aim is to provide maximum international exposure for our teams,” the PFF president stressed, adding that efforts are also underway to arrange international friendlies for the men’s national team.
“It is a landmark achievement for the PFF that the national women’s team will take part in a FIFA event, where they will face teams like Turks and Caicos Islands, Mauritania and Ivory Coast in April during the FIFA Series.
“The PFF will also be participating in a UEFA event for the first time when our Under-16 team competes in the development tournament in Kazakhstan.”
The PFF president further revealed that plans are in motion to launch the domestic league, while talks with the government are ongoing regarding the restoration of departmental teams.
“The Challenge Cup marked the first step towards the resumption of domestic football activities in the country, and it concluded successfully yesterday with WAPDA being crowned champions.
“We are engaged in discussions with the government to push for the restoration of more departmental teams.
“As far as the league project is concerned, we have witnessed significant interest and have shortlisted several companies as potential partners.”
Gilani stressed that investment in football would lead to improved infrastructure.
“The launch of the league will generate revenue for the PFF,” he said, adding that it would help address the federation’s funding challenges.
“We have long relied on funding from FIFA and the AFC to run our affairs, but I believe it is time to change that.
“We need to diversify our revenue streams, and that will naturally contribute to better infrastructure development across the country.”
