KARACHI, Feb 4: The Pakistan football team is all set for another shot in the arm when UK-based sponsors and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) sign a contract to play a series in South Africa, an official said Monday.

“An official representing the sponsors of the Pakistan football team’s forthcoming tour to South Africa, Sapphire, is arriving in Karachi Feb 15 and we hope to finalize Pakistan’s series in South Africa,” said Pakistan PFF secretary Agha Liaquat Ali. The Pakistan football team is likely to tour Sri Lanka for a three-match series in late February and then South Korean league champion club Hyundi Horange will tour Pakistan for two matches.

Pakistan is likely to tour South Africa from May 7-15 to play two matches against India and as many matches against South African clubs. “Phil Candy, the representative of the London-based business concern, rang me up to inform us of his arrival date,” said Ali.

The Sapphire Enterprises are the same sponsors who had backed the Pakistan team’s England tour last year. “Through a series against Sri Lanka, the tour of the South Korean team and a series in South Africa we will overcome the football drought the team is facing,” he said.

Pakistan’s football suffered badly in the wake of the cancellation of two main events - the South Asian Football Federation Cup and the South Asian Federation Games. Bangladesh was due to host the SAFF Cup last month but the event was canceled after Bangladesh was suspended by the International Football Federation (FIFA) for violating rules.

The IXth SAF games were due to be held in Pakistan in March-April this year but were postponed for the second time owing to the tension between Pakistan and India.—SADA