Islamabad football team trials begin

Normalisation committee is working to bring the game out of crisis in the country

ISLAMABAD:

The two-day trials for the selection of the Islamabad football team would be held from October 10 at the Mehran Football Ground.

Islamabad Football Association's Normalisation Committee Chairman Muhammad Zaman said the trials would be held daily from 2pm to 5pm. He also directed the representatives of all registered clubs to send their players for the trials. "The selected team will participate in the first Chief Minister Balochistan All Pakistan Gold Cup Football Tournament," he said.

A normalisation committee was made for the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) by International Football Federation (FIFA) whose task is to hold elections of the country's football governing body and bring an end to a four-year crisis that resulted in Pakistan suffering significantly in the game.

Former International footballer Haji Abdul Sattar believed that the football game could not be developed in the country without formation of academies at grass-roots level.

"There is a lot of talent in the country but steps were needed to be taken to utilise it. No game can develop without the patronage of the government and sponsors and academies are the need of the hour," he said in a statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2020.