KARACHI, Aug 22: The final decision on December SAFF soccer championship venue will be taken in next few days, a Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) official said on Monday.
Although two members of the delegation to inspect Karachi’s People’s Sports Complex arrived in the port city on Monday for the final inspection and report, it will be Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) which is to decide the venue.
Two officials — Mr Tom Wheeler and Mr Shahrum Jappar of the World Sports Group the marketing company for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) event — arrived on Monday, while the secretary of the SAFF Sirajul Islam Bachchu is expected to reach the city on Tuesday.
PFF director technical Col Mujahid Ullah Khan (retd), who is in the city, told Dawn although the three officials would visit People’s Sports Complex — the proposed venue — at 11.00am on Tuesday, it would be PFF’s privilege to take the final decision.
“SAFF delegates are here to inspect People’s Sports Complex for the last time before submitting their final report on the facilities. But that doesn’t mean Karachi will host the event. It is only the PFF which can decide whether to organize the championship here or in Lahore.
“During their last visit in June, the inspectors had expressed satisfaction over the People’s Sports Complex apart from few things. I believe they will be satisfied now after visiting the venue this time,” Mujahid said reacting over a statement by Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor in which he stated Karachi would host the championship.
Sindh Football Association chairman and the PFF vice-president Ghulam Abbas Baloch had alleged few elements within the federation had been lobbying to shift the venue to Lahore as part of a conspiracy to deprive Karachi of the event.
Asked about his opinion about the Karachi venue Mujahid said although he had not visited the stadium as yet after his arrival from PFF headquarters in Lahore, People’s Sports Complex had improved according to the feedback he had received.
Mujahid was unconvincing when questioned about the logic of inspecting the venue by SAFF delegates when it was PFF which would take the final decision.
“SAFF officials and other inspectors from World Sports Group who are the sponsors are here to inspect from another angle which is purely financial. The event was allotted to Pakistan but it is the prerogative of PFF to choose the venue,” he said.
Interestingly, SAFF officials had expressed reservation over the poor lighting arrangement at People’s Sports Complex since few matches are to be played under lights.
Surprisingly, Mujahid was not unduly worried when asked what purpose could be served by Tuesday’s visit of WSG officials at 11.00am as Bachchu, who was scheduled to arrive in the afternoon, would miss the visit.
“The two WSG officials will visit the venue in the morning as Bachchu has already seen the facilities at the stadium.”
“If PFF decides to host the event in Lahore it can be organized in day light,” the official said when asked how Lahore could host the event for the city did not have a stadium equipped with lights and the SAFF inspectors during their June visit to Karachi and Lahore had ruled out matches being played under makeshift lights towers.
While on one hand Mujahid said the inspectors were here to ascertain facilities which were not technical, the official said Bachchu and two WSG officials would watch Karachi Port Trust and Wapda game specially being played at 7.30pm to give the inspectors an opportunity to check the lights.