ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s football export increased by 62.22% in the first four months of 2022. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country exported footballs worth US$81,351,000 between July 2022 and October 2022. This shows that Pakistan is a significant contributor to the sport of football. Unfortunately, though, the Pakistani football team has failed to represent itself on an international level.
Pakistan’s football team, managed by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), only participates in one major tournament, i.e., the South Asian Games. Over the years, the team has won several gold medals in the tournament. Pakistan has been a member of FIFA since 1948 and is the only Asian Football Confederation member yet to win a FIFA World Cup qualifier. However, FIFA has banned the country multiple times due to political interferences in the PFF leaving the national team in disarray.
The undeveloped football sector of Pakistan, much like the rest of Pakistan, is a victim of a structural dilemma. This lack of structure is apparent when considering how unrecognised the football clubs in Pakistan are. The teams lack ample training support, which has prevented players and teams from entering different tournaments. The relevant authorities must lend support to the PFF and provide it with the resources to improve training facilities for players. Pakistani clubs must be more consistent with their participation in leagues. Across the country, many children are passionate about football; however, they are forced to give up on their dreams due to the absence of a recognised national team and a lack of opportunities to showcase their skills. We must not ignore the efforts of our football players, coaches, and others and provide our team with the proper resources and support to make strides internationally.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2022.
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