At a time when no international team is willing to tour Pakistan, the Pakistan Football Federation has got the right to hold the AFC U-16 Football Championship Qualifiers Round next month.
This was revealed by PFF President Syed Makhdoom Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat in a press conference here at the Football House on Friday.
The qualifying round will be held at Karachi from September 23 to 30 and will be participated by four teams including hosts Pakistan.
Apart from announcing the organization of an international event, Saleh Hayat also appealed Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif for the provision of foolproof security to ensure the holding of the AFC Under-16 Football Championship Qualifiers Round.
The PFF chief said that the purpose of holding the briefing is to draw the attention of the government towards the event and seeking its support in the smooth conduct of Round in Pakistan.
He informed that the teams from Islamic Republic of Iran, UAE, Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be taking part.
It is not the first time that the PFF is hosting international teams but in the past even after the attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2009, it hosted the Palestinian and Malaysian football teams.
He further stated that the government should take keen interest in this international mega event which will provide an opportunity to portray Pakistan’s soft image to the entire world. He demanded a security guarantee from the federal as well as the provincial governments to meet the FIFA and AFC requirement.
He also said that it was PFF in the past which brought international football events in Pakistan at a time when Pakistan was isolated and had become a no go area for international sports events. He also highlighted that PFF has contacted all the relevant government quarters numerous times but no response has been shown by them.
The PFF President made a strong appeal to the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to take personal interest in this matter of national pride.
