ISLAMABAD: The  AFC U-14 Festival of Football came to a close on Sunday at Jinnah Stadium Sports Complex, Islamabad with hopes that the event will help promote football in Pakistan. On the last day of the festival, two matches were played to accomplish a total of six matches under the second format where the teams played for 60 minutes with a half-time break.

The two Central Region Asian youth teams played 18 matches both under the second and first formats, the latter being a format where the teams played for 30 minutes without a break. The last two matches were played between Afghanistan and Pakistan as well as the Pakistan and Pakistan A teams.

Federal Minister for States and Frontier Region (SAFRON) and President FATA Olympic Association Shaukat Ullah Khan was the chief guest of the closing ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that sports were an important component and imperative for the projection of the soft image of Pakistan abroad. The promotion of sports activities, he said would help engage the youth towards healthy activities besides developing tolerance and a sense of fair competition among them.

John Whittle, Project Director AFC, thanked Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) for hosting the festival for the Central Region. He appreciated their continuous collaboration with AFC for football development in Asia.

Earlier, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President PFF said: “The AFC's decision to select Islamabad as a venue for a premier youth football event makes me very happy, as it augurs well for Pakistan and its football.”

He said Pakistan was a safe destination and had appropriate human and financial resources to stage such events on a large scale.