Pakistan, Saudi Arabia discuss cooperation to boost football development

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani met Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, to discuss expanding cooperation aimed at revitalising football in the country, officials said on Thursday.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties in sports, particularly through joint initiatives, exchange programmes and institutional partnerships to support football development.

Gilani thanked the Saudi government for its continued support of sports in Pakistan, describing Saudi Arabia as a longstanding friend and valued partner.

“Pakistan has immense football talent. Our focus is to strengthen grassroots structures, improve coaching standards, upgrade infrastructure and provide international exposure to young players,” Gilani said. He added that the federation is implementing a comprehensive plan to promote football from grassroots to professional levels nationwide.

He said enhanced cooperation, including training programmes and friendly matches between the two countries, would provide fresh momentum to the sport in Pakistan. “Our goal is to see Pakistan earn a respectable position on the global football stage,” he said.

Al-Maliki reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the development of football in Pakistan, noting that sports play an important role in strengthening ties between the two nations. He expressed confidence that closer collaboration would contribute to the growth of the game.

The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, with both sides reiterating their commitment to expanding sports cooperation in the future.