Of Brazucas and kits: PPFL to have a ball

First-ever sponsors of Pakistan’s top league eager to provide the best.

KARACHI: For the first time in the tournament’s history, Pakistan players will get to play with Brazuca-quality footballs in the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) this season.

With the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) finally having attracted sponsors for the country’s top league after 12 years, the Ballon Star sports gear manufacturers have come forward to provide free kits and footballs for the five-month long tournament that will feature the top 12 clubs.

According to Ballon Star Director Tahir Nadeem, his company is eager to help the PFF and the players to improve the standard of the sport in Pakistan.

The company will provide two types of footballs for PPFL; one will be a thermal-bonded model, which is machine-made and lightweight — the sort that is used in FIFA events — and the other will be hand-stitched for the team’s practice sessions.

“The football we’ll provide for the league will be of the same quality as the Brazuca [used in the 2014 World Cup],” Nadeem told The Express Tribune. “We wanted to sponsor the kits and the gear because if the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] and FIFA officials can come down to Pakistan to help the sport, why can’t we?”

Nadeem added that Ballon Star is more concerned with helping the league and the marketing aspect is only a secondary matter. “Right now, we can’t really say much about the business value of this venture, but our players need good quality footballs and gear,” he said.

Players rejoice

K-Electric captain Essa Khan expressed relief on the news of getting a chance to play with standardised footballs. He said that throughout the history of the league, the teams had to play with varying qualities of football, which affects the game in a negative manner.

“Better late than never,”
exclaimed Essa. “It took the PFF 12 years to get a sponsor, but I’m glad it finally happened. The footballs have been a big issue. Every team in the league brings their own football to matches, and sometimes the quality of that football is so inferior that it’s tough to play.”

On the other hand, Afghan FC captain Jadeed Khan said getting proper kits is a big issue in clubs with lesser resources, as most players work as labourers and they cannot afford professional kits. “Around Rs300,000 are required to get all players a good quality kit,” said Jadeed. “Now the free gear will surely encourage us to improve our game too.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th,  2015.

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