Leisure Leagues bring another ex-Arsenal footballer to Pakistan

Mouthwatering line-up for planned 5-a-side match is now complete

Portugal's Luís Boa Morte has been unveiled as the latest name to join the raft of football legends set to visit Pakistan in July as part of a Leisure Leagues Pakistan (LLP) initiative.

Morte, who played for Fulham, West Ham and Arsenal during a successful career, will join the likes of previously announced icons such as Ronaldinho, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka and David James to play a five-a-side charity match with Pakistani youth.

"I'm excited to come to Pakistan," said Morte. "I've never been to the country so I'm looking forward to be a part of the family.

"There are ways to make football big in Pakistan," he claims before asking fans: "Are you ready for football?"

“We want to revive sports activities in Pakistan, and Balochistan specifically has immense footballing talent but lacks the right platform. We want the youth of Balochistan to register with the LLP, a name that guarantees that they will get to play football without any hardships,” said Mehmood Trunkwala, chairman of the World Group and the man behind the LLP.

Anas Trunkwala, Director World Group, is confident that the LLP will help Pakistani players become international footballers, get scholarships in foreign varsities and employment abroad.

“Players will also get a chance to be trained by international coaches and play on thousands of football pitches in Pakistan,” he added. "Football is a tremendously popular sport in Pakistan and this move will aid development at grassroots level. This league will provide a much-needed platform for young talent in Pakistan to come forward and acquire the skills necessary to play football at an international level".

Leisure Leagues Pakistan is a nationwide initiative to bring football to Pakistan.