LAHORE, Sept 10: In a pledge to continue its drive towards professionalising football in the country, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is looking forward to its joint venture with the Jeddah-based International Professional Link Group (IPLG).

“The PFF-IPLG joint venture would propel the PFF to apply new ideas in order to contribute in developing the standard of the game in the country,” stated PFF’s Secretary-general Lt Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi during a press conference here at the FIFA Football House on Wednesday.

Also present on this occasion were PFF Director Marketing Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, Nsibaba Eddy Imeh-Ony, Marketing Manager of IPLG which has also joined hands with the Al Nasr Club — the oldest club in the UAE, established in 1945.

“I want to see the most popular sport right on top in Pakistan and will do my best to fulfill this dream. I want year-round soccer activity through the marketing cell to inspire and motivate people. I hope the atmosphere that I am trying to create with the help of the media will bear fruit. The PFF-IPLG agreement will certainly take Pakistan football to new heights,” said Naveed Haider.

Nsibaba assured that help from IPLG and the Al Nasr Club will benefit the PFF in the form of exchange visits of men and women teams besides offering refereeing, coaching and administrative courses.

Taking notice of the fact that the standard of the game in Pakistan has improved in recent years with the age-limit teams doing well in the 2004 and 2006 SAF Games, while at the main level Pakistan was unfortunate not to capitalise on the chances they received, Nsibaba said that Pakistani football carries much potential with some good players and some good teams but a lack of money and facilities.

“Several players here are worthy enough to play pro-soccer abroad and I believe there are still some hurdles that need to be overcome for football to blossom in the Pakistan. What’s lacking is a sense of professionalism, while some obstructions make it difficult for the players from the region to adapt abroad. The deal will also create chances for Pakistani footballers to sign up and show their mettle in foreign leagues,” he said.

Nsibaba added that the Al Nasr FC experience will prove beneficial for Pakistan football as the club also has the honour of winning the Etisalat National League, which is considered as one of the most exciting events in the Asian continent, thrice (in 1978, 1979 and 1986). Nicknamed “The Blue Wave”, Al-Nasr, meaning “victory”, is among the foremost football teams of UAE and they will also be launching their own satellite channel from January 2009, becoming the first UAE club to have their own satellite sports channel.

The signing ceremony for the joint venture is to take place after Eidul Fitr.—Agencies