Lahore, 20 September : “As the most popular sport, football is a universal language that can help bridge all social divides. Although fair play is a principle that applies all year round, the FIFA Fair Play Days give the football family the opportunity to celebrate fair play in a special way and to recognise and highlight the best examples of sportsmanship from the year. Holding these events in conjunction with the International Day of Peace thus creates the perfect complement for essential peace-building programmes worldwide,” this is stated by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat who ordered PFF Operation Wing to celebrate the day in befitting manner.
PFF is celebrating FIFA Fair Play Day at Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore on Sunday, 21 September 2008 night after Namaz-e-Taraviah and asked coaches, working under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) AID-27 Financial Assistance Scheme, to fulfill the demand.
Nasir Ismail (NBP), head coach of Pakistan U13, 14 Football teams, will arranged the FIFA Fair Play Day at Karachi’s T-Ground, situated on Federal B. Area, Block 15, Gulberg Town, in between final of two events – Six-a-side PFF U18 Ramzan Cup and Hadi Salim Tabani Flood-lit event for clubs. “We devoted a match between Private Channel Combined XI and Ex-International XI for the occasion whose chief guest will be Sindh Sports Minister Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah at 11.30 PM,” said Nasir who is accompanied by another AFC AID-27 coach Salim Patni, former PIA’s striker.
Sajjad Mehmood (KRL) will host Special match at Rawalpindi’s Army Sports Complex between Army XI and Rawalpindi Combined at 11 PM. The third activity, supervised by Asghar Khan Anjum, will be seen at Lahore at 10 PM where an exhibition encounter before second quarter-final (Mujahid FC v Gulshan Ravi) of First Ramzanul Mubarak PEL Cup Football Tournament will have the touch of FIFA Fair Play requirements at PEL Ground, Ferozpur road, near Kainchi.
PFF Chief clearly stressed FIFA’s commitment to fair play as a far-reaching means of demonstrating responsibility both on and off the pitch: “We acknowledge the prominent role of sport and especially of football as a vehicle for delivering clear and firm messages to eradicate the major ills affecting society around the world. As the most popular sport, football is a universal language that can help bridge all social divides. Although fair play is a principle that applies all year round, the FIFA Fair Play Days give the football family the opportunity to celebrate fair play in a special way and to recognize and highlight the best examples of sportsmanship from the year. Holding these events in conjunction with the International Day of Peace thus creates the perfect complement for essential peace-building programmes worldwide.”
FIFA has invited all of its 208 member associations to join in the celebrations by gathering around a football pitch, highlighting the values of fair play and reminding the football family of the meaning of peace and the need for commitment to its realization. FIFA has celebrated Fair Play Days since 1997 and this year is the fourth time that the events will be linked to the International Day of Peace.
Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 September 2008 )