World Cup to divert war apprehensions in Pakistan: PFA
KARACHI, May 27 (AFP)
Pakistani football authorities Monday said they hope the World Cup which kicks off in Asia for the first time this week will help divert fears and apprehension surrounding the looming conflict with India.
“Sports have always been a tool for peace and we hope that when the football World Cup is over threats of a war between Pakistan and India go with it,” said Pakistan Football Federation secretary Agha Liaquat Ali. Defending champions France take on Senegal in South Korea on Friday to kick off the event jointly hosted by South Korea and Japan.
With tensions mounting between Pakistan and India, the attractions of the subcontinent’s most popular game, cricket, are waning and sports fans are now focusing their interest on football.
Though Pakistan’s representation is confined to sending a few hundred balls to be used in practice sessions, and a visit by three officials who will cast votes for the next president of the world football governing body FIFA, the World Cup boom is in full swing.
“We lag far behind in international football but the craze of the game is enormous and we hope to build on that in the next 10 years,” Ali said.
Pakistan is placed at 182 on the FIFA rankings but its prospects have brightened thanks to a 2.0 million dollar grant from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and a promised 400,000 dollar development fund from FIFA.
While the coveted World Cup trophy travelled to neighbouring Bangladesh and India on its promotional tour of the region, fans in Pakistan missed out.
“The amount needed to insure the cup was huge and we could not have afforded that so the cup did not come to Pakistan,” Ali said.
Undeterred, the nation’s football fanatics are busily buying up posters of stars like Brazil’s Ronaldo, Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta, England’s David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane from France.
Pakistan’s sporting scene has been badly hit by a series of militant attacks on Western targets here, forcing several international events to be cancelled or put under review.
However, thousands of fans thronged a stadium in the volatile southern port city of Karachi when it hosted the Asian under-19 football championship last month.
But World Cup followers will follow the action from their homes thanks to live telecasts on national television.
“We have the rights to 64 matches, more than any country in the region, and the viewership will be very high for the World Cup,” Pakistan Television Sports director Akhtar Viqar Azeem told AFP.
In Karachi’s southern slum area of Lyari, known for its love for football, the Brazilian side is a crowd favourite.
“My money is on Brazil, they are a star-studded team and lost the final (to France) by a fluke in 1998,” said die-hard fan Murad Bakhsh.
Electronics dealers report a significant rise in sales of television sets ahead of the sporting extravaganza.
“I saved pocket money for two years and have bought a television for myself – it’s only for watching the football World Cup,” said one buyer, Arif Baloch.
“At times you can’t get a place in the hotel so I thought it’s better to have your own TV.”
I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work… I want to achieve it through not dying.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words. WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions. WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits. WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character. WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
and Umair said it right, we have a lot of football talent in Pakistan.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words. WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions. WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits. WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character. WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
I totally disagree with you guys on this one. Pakistan does not have ANY football talent whatsoever. Whatever talent Pakistan has is just like the football talent of any country who is ranked below 150 in FIFA member countries, so Pakistan ain’t any different from them. Out of 203 member countries of FIFA, pakistan is ranked 180th, so please don’t fool yourselves that pakistan has a lot of talent, or Pakistan does not do good in football because “lot of players don’t show up for practice”!
Pakistan might be able to make it to top 100 the day it starts treating football like stupid boring cricket.
I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work… I want to achieve it through not dying.
[quote]
Originally posted by DonJuan DeMarco:
** I totally disagree with you guys on this one. Pakistan does not have ANY football talent whatsoever. Whatever talent Pakistan has is just like the football talent of any country who is ranked below 150 in FIFA member countries, so Pakistan ain't any different from them. Out of 203 member countries of FIFA, pakistan is ranked 180th, so please don't fool yourselves that pakistan has a lot of talent, or Pakistan does not do good in football because "lot of players don't show up for practice"!
Pakistan might be able to make it to top 100 the day it starts treating football like stupid boring cricket.
**
[/quote]
DJ I have seen my cousins friends play in Pakistan just for fun and they have their own "Muhala" club.
And this guyz a hell better than I saw people playing in AUstria and there is surely a lot of talent hiding in the streets of Pakistan.
“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words. WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions. WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits. WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character. WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."
Pakistan do have a football team but they are not qualified for even FIFA. But that team go to play other countries like india, srilanka, iran, bangladesh, etc. My first cousin is in the team and they go to other countries to play.
You people simply don't knwo about Paksiatn's hidden talent. Ever seen Baloch, Shibi, and Makrani guys play football? I ahve seen them numerous times in Karachi. These kids have natural talent for football, but because they are from minority communties, PAkistan ignores them and they get know funds to train on propoer field.
[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited May 29, 2002).]
[quote]
Originally posted by Question: Pakistan do have a football team but they are not qualified for even FIFA. But that team go to play other countries like india, srilanka, iran, bangladesh, etc. My first cousin is in the team and they go to other countries to play.
[/quote]
Thanks for the enlightenment sir...we are not questionning the fact whether Pakistan has a team or not, we all agree and know that Pakistan has a soccer team, we are talking about the quality of that team and the football talent that lies in Pakistan.
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
[quote]
Originally posted by JimmyC:
**You people simply don't knwo about Paksiatn's hidden talent. Ever seen Baloch, Shibi, and Makrani guys play football? I ahve seen them numerous times in Karachi. These kids have natural talent for football, but because they are from minority communties, PAkistan ignores them and they get know funds to train on propoer field.
**
[/quote]
wow...since u seem to have such an eye for football talent why don't you apply for a coaching job at Manchester United, I hear Alex Ferguson is looking for an assistant these days!, and then you can hire all thos Balochi, Makrani or Shibi(whatever the heck that is) guys and kick some major butt!
I don't want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited May 29, 2002).]
[quote]
Originally posted by DonJuan DeMarco:
** Thanks for the enlightenment sir...we are not questionning the fact whether Pakistan has a team or not, we all agree and know that Pakistan has a soccer team, we are talking about the quality of that team and the football talent that lies in Pakistan.