Lahore, 25 June ; “Vision Asia is the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s grand plan for a continent-wide program to raise the standards of football at all levels. PFF is to focus on improving its administration, strengthening clubs and boosting development as part of the Vision Pakistan project to raise the standard of football in the country. I congratulated PFF for fulfiling criteria of AFC and becoming 15th of the 46 AFC-related countries to join VA. Pakistan will get all the technical assistance from the AFC in various fields which would pave the way for the growth of the game.” this is stated by Vision Asia Director Brendan Menton at PFF Conference Hall on Thursday where representatives of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s Secretary General Lt. Col ®Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, Director Operation Wng Cmdr ® Pervaiz Saeed Mir, Wohaib Butt Memorial FC’s chief Hafiz Salman Butt and PMC’s representative gave presentation to VA team.
Menton also briefed about VA Project infront of all members of PFF Congress chaired by PFF’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat at FIFA Football House, Lahore on Wednesday. Five-member Vision Pakistan Project Assessment team landed at Lahore yesterday to hold a series of discussions with the officials of the PFF regarding the various administrative and football activities in the country.
The delegation, headed by Menton, will spent five days in Pakistan outlining a comprehensive program for the development of Pakistani football. According to Chief Coordinator and former FIFA Referee Arif Siddiqui, the other members in team are Imtiaz Rehman (Vision India Director), Dr. Annathurai Ranganathan (Grassroots and Youth Department Development Officer), Ali Targholizadeh (Coaches Education) and Ameez Mohamed (Development Officer – Referees),
Menton, former General Secretary of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), added : “Vision Asia started few years ago and some Asian countries are under this program. I have faith in PFF’s officials and hope everything will go in the right direction. We will try to build infrastructure and work with the PFF and number of provinces, districts to build a strong base of football.”
Replying to a query about the financial aspect of the project, Menton said that to make it a success, money has to come from different sources. “If you have money but not infrastructure, you won’t be successful. Structural issues need to be addressed first, which will not cost a lot of money.”
Vision Asia team will stay till June 27 and will hold a series of meetings with the top officials of the different departments of the PFF as well as the National team coach George Kottan. “The delegation will be briefed about the league structure, youth development program and the administrative activities of the PFF as well as the provincial and district structure will also come under discussion,” said Lodhi who added that on Thursday, VA team also visited PEL Ground (4 PM), Aitchison College Ground (5 PM), Railway Stadium (6 PM) and PFF Kids Centre (7.30 PM).
Friday Schedule of Vision Pakistan Project Assessment Team :
Visit to Punjab FA Office, Punjab Stadium (11 AM), Lahore DFA Office, Punjab University (12.30 PM), Central Model School, Upper Mall (3 PM), GC University Ground (4 PM), NBP Lahore Soccer Cup match – Faridia FC v Nishat FC – at Punjab University Ground, Old Campus, Lake Road, Chauburji (5.30 PM), Model Town Football Academy (7.30 PM).