LAHORE – Former National skippers have congratulated Pakistan Football Federation President Faisal Saleh Hayat on becoming first Pakistani ever to have been elected to the prestigious AFC Executive Committee during the 24th Asian Football Confederation Congress at Doha on Thursday.
Faisal is also the only Pakistani who visited the football World Cup as member of FIFA/ World Cup Disciplinary Committee last year. He is also the chairman of Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary Committee since July 15, 2009.
“It is a remarkable achievement for PFF. I have seen 16 PFF Presidents in my 59-year football career but no one matches the qualities of Faisal, who showed courage and commitment for the game, even overlooking his own hectic schedules,” said Zahid Hameed, skipper during SAFF Championship 2008.
Shaukat Mufti, Pakistani skipper in Tehran’s 10 Day event and Karachi’s President Gold Cup in 1986, said: “People belonging to all the departments of football stand solidly behind the PFF chief for his tremendous accomplishments in such a short span of time.”
Tanveer Ahmed, skipper of Pakistan in the First Islamic Games 2005, stressed that it is a healthy sign for Pakistan football as both AFC and FIFA have reposed confidence in PFF President. “Faisal ambition to prop up the game from grassroots level is amazing. I hope Faisal will continue to promote football in Pakistan as he has done during the past seven years,” said Tanveer.
“Faisal pledged to continue his drive to develop, women’s and youth soccer. Under his vision, PFF has achieved a lot in the last six years,” added Akbar Raisani, skipper of Pakistan during 1981 King Cup at Bangkok, Zafar Iqbal, captain in SAFF Championship 1993, observed that the Pakistani teams used to lose by big margins in the past, but now Pakistani teams are no more underdogs in the international circuit.
