Iconic footballers urge Pakistan to make room for beautiful game

Superstar Giggs, James, Pires sure there is love for beautiful game in the country

DUBAI: While football is quite easily the world's topmost sport, it remains a distant second in Pakistan, with the country's national team languishing outside the top 200 in FIFA world rankings.

To promote the beautiful game, iconic footballers Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Ryan Giggs, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka, David James, George Boateng and Luis Boa Morte arrived in Pakistan on Saturday, with Islamabad being the first of their three stops.

While the well-travelled octet had admittedly little knowledge of Pakistan, this much they knew that football is not the dominant sport on these shores.

But Ronaldinho and Friends' twin exhibition matches in Pakistan aren't about knocking someone off their perch. For them it's about providing an alternative to sports fans in Pakistan and sharing the joy of football with them.

"I know there is room for cricket in Pakistan but I'm sure there is also room for football," said former Liverpool goalkeeper James, who has also played in India, in an interview with The Express Tribune. "There is so much love for football [in this region] but not much representation at the highest level."

Legendary Arsenal and France winger Pires is another one who feels the two giant sports can coexist and thrive in Pakistan. "I know cricket is number one in this country, but maybe some kids want to play football so we can give advice to those young players."

Pires' compatriot and ex-Chelsea forward Anelka made it clear that pulling Pakistan out of footballing doldrums and getting their fans as excited about the local game could prove to be a major challenge, but one that can be overcome.

"It won't be easy because most people play cricket in Pakistan, it's going to take time," he said. "But I'm sure a lot of kids like football too, so if we bring over the knowledge and the right people, anything is possible."

Anelka feels football's simplicity and its all-inclusive nature is what makes it the number one sport in the world, something that could prove pivotal in Pakistan too.

"Football in Europe, and the world, is number one," said the Frenchman. "If you go to streets in France, they don't play tennis or anything else. They play football because it's simple."

Manchester United great Ryan Giggs feels the "Ronaldinho and Friends" spectacle can become the springboard for future success for football talent in Pakistan.

"I hear there is a lot of talent in Pakistan so we hope to promote football and hope that this is start, a passageway for these young players to go on to bigger and better things," he said before leaving for Islamabad from Dubai.

Former Fulham star Luis Boa Morte, meanwhile, offered a detailed plan on how to put Pakistani football on the map.

"You have to take it as a long-term project, set targets and ask yourself 'how we're going to achieve that and do we have the tools to get there?'" said the Portuguese. "All those options need to be weighed."

Morte pointed to the example of India and feels theirs is a footballing blueprint Pakistan can emulate.

"Football is not number one in India either, but they were given the U17 World Cup because they've been working at the grassroot level and they know if they don't they'll be in trouble," he said. "They took a risk, and now they're ready to go. They have a long-term project going so [Pakistan can] do something similar."

Lastly, Ronaldinho revealed that in addition to his natural desire to take football to new places it was the Trunkwala Family that made the entire trip possible.

"It all started with my friendship with Trunkwala family," said the World Cup-winner. "I got an invitation and it was just a natural process. I'm very thankful to them."