I request authorities concerned to check footballs thoroughly, make sure that they’re totally child labour free.
KARACHI: We’ve seen Pakistani footballs being used all around the globe in different leagues and events and even in the FIFA World Cups. Pakistani footballs, of course, have a long history of being kicked around in football world cup tournaments. The fabulous, hand stitched, high performance footballs from Sialkot have been the preferred choice for Adidas, the official providers of match balls to the FIFA World Cups.
Due to lack of resources the manufacturers of sporting goods in Pakistan used children to work day and night in order to increase the production of footballs for the FIFA World Cup 2010, but the consignment of footballs was rejected because of the element of child labour.
Now, after a two-and-a-half year trial, Adidas introduced the FIFA World Cup official football, ‘Brazuka’, on December 3, 2013, which is made in Pakistan. This ball has been tested in the world’s best football clubs such as Chelsea, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and others. According to Adidas, six identical panels, alongside a new surface structure, provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics. Brazil’s Dani Alves said, “My first impression of the Brazuka is of a ball that is fantastic and we’re going to have a lot of fun with it”.
I would request the authorities concerned to check the footballs thoroughly and make sure that they’re totally child labour free and up to the mark so that we can be proud of our country.
Syed Omer Nadeem
Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2014.
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