Source: Daily Times

There is no shortcut to success: Faisal

By Muhammad Ali

LAHORE: Football is one of the most widely played, loved and popular sports in the world. It has viewership and fan following of billions: from American continent to Europe to Middle East to Asia to Australia. According to a survey conducted by FIFA, over 240 million people from more than 200 countries regularly play football. Its simple rules and minimal equipment requirements have no doubt aided its spread and growth in popularity. In many parts of the world football evokes great passions and plays an important role in the life of individual fans, local communities, and even nations.

In Pakistan, soccer is gaining recognition for the last couple of years due to efforts of the present administration of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) headed by Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat. Before arrival of Faisal, football was a forgotten and ignored sport. The national federation was involved in political controversies and had no plan, no infrastructure, no roadmap and above all no vision. But Faisal changed the scenario with his dedication and determination.

In an exclusive chat with Daily Times here on Thursday, Faisal talked about past, present and future of Pakistan football. “There is no shortcut to success,” stated Faisal. “Since my taking over as chief of the national federation, I am planning and trying tirelessly to take Pakistan football to new heights,” he added. Faisal said it would take a couple of years to organise and develop football under a systematic programme to achieve success. “Me and my colleagues are taking keen interest to develop football, and the steps taken in the last few years indicate that football is moving in the right direction,” he maintained. The PFF chief vowed to improve football infrastructure and said the national federation was mobilizing all resources to promote football on new lines in the country by evolving a comprehensive activity plan.

Faisal, who completed his first term successfully last year and was elected unopposed for a another term of four years, said under FIFA Goal Project the PFF successfully established a Football House and the Punjab Stadium in Lahore. “This speaks volumes of our dedicated efforts.” He said FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had started taking interest in Pakistan soccer. “They are providing us with the financial help on a yearly basis. And we are taking full advantage of the help.” Faisal said when he started attending the meetings of FIFA and AFC he came to know that many members of the world and Asian bodies were unaware that Pakistan was part of the soccer organisations. “This was really embarrassing. The previous PFF officials were unable to contact or converse with the FIFA or AFC officials. Seeing my commitment with Pakistan soccer, I have been appointed as a senior member of the AFC disciplinary committee. This is a big achievement for Pakistan,” he said.

Faisal said the PFF had started the league in the country that was not there before. “Three kinds of league are taking place in the country: Premier League, PFF League and Youth League. This continuous activity programme and a chain of tournaments will help in making football a popular sport of the country besides giving us a due status at international level.” He said the federation was giving more importance to youth. “The youngsters are the future of Pakistan. We are concentrating on youth football: Under-13, Under-16 and Under-19.”

Regarding the PFF’s achievements, he said Pakistan won gold medals in 2004 and then again in 2006 at SAF Games. “For the first time India came to Pakistan to play a series and many other teams also visited the country to play matches. Pakistan also performed very well against some very best teams of Asia – Iraq and Singapore – during the World Cup qualifiers. This was all due to our hard work as we have generated enough football activity in the last four years.” Faisal said the PFF was also laying special emphasis on the grooming of women players and the technical officials. “We initiated women’s soccer in Pakistan. We are regularly holding women’s national championship. This is even appreciated by FIFA and AFC.” Faisal said he wanted to improve the knowledge of the soccer officials in the country. “With the help of FIFA and AFC, a number of courses have been held in Pakistan to improve the efficiency of the technical officials.” Faisal said he wanted to create football friendly environment in Pakistan. “Promotion of club soccer is my top priority. My aim is to give Pakistan soccer names like famous cricketers Fazal Mahmood, Majid Khan, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad and Wasim Akram.”

To a question regarding a foreign coach, Faisal said he was in favour of a foreign coach. “A foreign coach is very important for Pakistan soccer. We cannot make progress without foreign coaches, who are very expensive to hire.” He said Pakistan had good domestic coaches but foreign coaches were also essential since the game had technically advanced. “It has become highly competitive and professional sport. And it is my aim to turn Pakistan soccer into a professional sport.”

Faisal was all praise for his marketing director Sardar Naveed Haider who brought in sponsors for football. “No game can prosper without sponsorship and I must praise Naveed who is doing a wonderful job. I must also praise PFF secretary general Lt Col (r) Ahmad Yar Khan Lodhi, PFF director operations Wing Commander (r) Pervaiz Saeed Mir and PFF director finance Ms Nadia Naqvi for their hard work and in helping me to run the federation on merit and in a transparent way.”

He said the PFF had found sponsors for the installations of lights and upgradation of other facilities in areas where football was played with enthusiasm. He said the PFF had also raised the players and officials’ allowances. “We are paying the players $50 per day. We are also giving monetary incentives to the players who perform exceptionally well at home and away tournaments. This is unprecedented in Pakistan soccer history.” Faisal said despite FIFA and government help the PFF was still facing financial problems and he was trying his level best to involve the corporate sector in football.

Faisal said he was making hectic efforts to upgrade the existing football stadiums and establish new ones in the country. “Three stadiums will be built around the country as part of our efforts to develop the world’s number one sport in Pakistan also. The new stadiums will be built in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.” He said he had met the chiefs of FIFA and AFC and they had assured full support to the PFF. Faisal said the previous PFF management’s negligence had resulted in Pakistan being left out of FIFA’s ‘Vision Asia’ programme but he and his colleagues were trying to make amends.

No room for politics: Faisal made it clear that he was against politics in the national federation and its affiliated units. “When I joined the PFF I was very clear in my mind that I would not tolerate politics in the federation and its affiliates. I am trying to eliminate politics from Pakistan soccer, and it is on its way out.” He said he was optimistic about future of Pakistan soccer. “I want to see this most popular sport right on top in Pakistan and will do my best to fulfill this dream. I want the soccer activity whole year to inspire and motivate people. I hope the atmosphere that I am trying to create, with the help of media, will bear fruit soon,” he concluded.

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Tags: Asian Football Confederation, FIFA, Football, Pakistan Football Federation, Soccer, Sports