FIFA, PFF discuss football development program

LAHORE: The FIFA delegation concluded its two-day deliberations with the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on the game’s future late on Sunday.
The parties engaged in extensive dialogue during which the FIFA delegation headed by Sanjeevan Balasingam, FIFA’s director of member associations for Asia and Oceania, informed the PFF about the world soccer body’s “Forward Program.”
The FIFA initiative was a good sign for the development of football in Pakistan and would help the recovery from the damage that has occurred in the past three years, Balasingam said.
“It is a great opportunity for the PFF to first recuperate from the losses occurred due to the stoppage of the game in the past three years and then take football in Pakistan to new heights by using FIFA Forward Program support,” Sanjeevan said at the conclusion of the session at Football House.
Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, president of the PFF, welcomed the delegation and thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for extending support to the PFF through the FIFA program.
“PFF is grateful to the FIFA president for his keen interest in the development of football in Pakistan.” The FIFA Forward Program is a vital one for the development of football,” he said.
The main objective of the visit was to discuss the current state of the sport in the country and inform officials about how to benefit from the FIFA program, which was launched in 2016. The world body has substantially increased its financial support and assistance for its member associations through this program, a PFF press release said.
The PFF was represented by Vice President Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, General Secretary Lt Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, the director of finance, director of administration, deputy general secretary, technical director and head of league development and media.
The FIFA delegation informed PFF officials and staff about the procedures for claiming FIFA Forward Program funds.
Sardar Naveed Haider Khan highlighted the importance of the timing of the FIFA delegation’s visit and said that these were important days for the PFF.
“The PFF is working hard to revive football in Pakistan; these are very crucial times as we are in the planning phase and the direction set here will matter for the development of the game in future,” he said.
Lt. Col. Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, general secretary of the PFF, appreciated the recent initiative of the FIFA president and said it would help the PFF with much-needed football development in Pakistan, providing funds to revive the sport in compliance with the vision of football development recently approved by the PFF at its meeting on March 17.