|
|
| October 6, 2005 | Thursday | Ramazan 1, 1426 |
Faisal disapproves Sindh Minister’s SAFF committee
KARACHI, Oct 5: Pakistan Football Federation and Sindh ministry of sports head for a clash on the SAFF championship organization when the top PFF official on Wednesday disapproved the organizing committee announced by the provincial minister.
PFF chief Faisal Saleh Hayat did not mince words in rejecting the organizing committee announced by Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor, saying only PFF has the prerogative to form and announce the organizing committee.
“SAFF championship has been allotted to PFF and not to Sindh Ministry of Sports. We do not recognize any committee formed and announced by Sindh minister of sports. He (Qamar) is being over-enthusiastic but I think we will sort out the matter,” Faisal told Dawn.
The PFF president took strong notice of Sindh sports minister’s pledge that his ministry would organize the eight-nation Dec 7 to 17 event in “befitting manner”.
“PFF can ask local sports ministry for help if need be. But that doesn’t mean any ministry will organize such a big championship. FIFA and Asian Football Federation (AFC) charters are very clear and strictly forbid any interference in football affairs by the government.
“We have earned the right of hosting such an event after a long struggle. The event is yet to kick off. We should not create negative atmosphere before its start. We should be focussed only on football rather than other petty issues,” he remarked.
Faisal, however, refused to offer comments over Qamar’s allegations that a few PFF officials had tried to create hurdles for Karachi to host the championship and that the ministry would not take dictation from PFF.
“I don’t want to be involved in any controversy before such a big event. I would have replied had any person of my stature said such things.”
According to the organizing committee announced by minister of Sindh, Sindh Governor Dr.Ishratul Ibad Khan will be Patron-in-Chief of the organizing Committee, while Chief Minister Sindh Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Faisal will be co-chairman and vice-president PFF Abbas Baloch the organizing secretary.
Interestingly, the minister had said Sindh was the main “stakeholder” and wanted major share in hosting the championship.
Earlier, PFF had snubbed minister of sports for announcing that Karachi’s People’s Sports Complex would host the event while PFF was yet to finalize the venue for the championship.
PFF director technical Mujahid Ullah Khan (retd) rubbished the claims of Sindh minister saying “only PFF can organize SAFF event and no one has the right to host such major regional tournament.”
“The Sindh minister’s claims are senseless. What Sindh sports ministry would do if PFF now decides to host the event in any city except Karachi for any reason? They are even not capable to force PFF to organize the championship in Karachi leave alone hosting it,” the official reacted.
Mujahid said SAFF and AFC would provide $500,000 to PFF for the forthcoming event, but only $170,000 would be spent on organizational matters, while the remaining $330,000 would be for other expenses.
“Only $170,000 is for organizing the event but the rest of the amount will be for other expenses related to travel of the teams, officials and SAFF offices. There is a long break-up of the expenses for $330,000.”
Apart from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan will participate in the championship.
|
|
