By veteran football journalist, Riaz Ahmed
Pakistan Football Federation is probably the only Football Federation in the world whose ‘A’ and ‘B’ Divisions are held without sponsors or sponsorship deals.
Why is it so? The reason can better be explained by the PFF themselves, but such a case is seen nowhere else in the world. Every other Federation has long term deals with sponsors thus their leagues are not ‘’events inside tents’’ but are broadcasted live nationally if not internationally.
Last year in the shape of KASB the PFF had found a good sponsor on a long term, a 5 year deal, but this deal could only last one year and the deal simply ‘flopped’. It would have been better if the reasons that caused the deal to be called off were studied in detail, the problems solved and a new deal should immediately have been done with another company. But the Marketing Department of the PFF is not seen vibrant to pursue new sponsorship deals, even if companies approach the Marketing Department of the PFF they are somehow unable to satisfy the party and fail to get the deals done.
The national level events of all other sport bodies in Pakistan are seen having lucrative sponsorship deals but the national events of the PFF are simply sponsor-less. Maybe the PFF doesn’t need a sponsorship are they are satisfied by the mediocre sum that they get from FIFA, AFC and PSB. Even then the importance of sponsors cannot be denied. Just see how KASB got the final round of the Pakistan Premier League telecasted live from the Peoples Stadium Karachi on Geo Super. It was something we can refer to as historical, and had given new life to the PPL and our players were getting global recognition. The PFF President needs to immediately turn his attention towards this otherwise the efforts being put to promote Pakistani football will not bear fruit.
From the 22nd of November to the 14th of December the ‘B’ Division of the PFF was held at various cities across the country. But it seemed as if it was only held for the sake of it! There was no interest in it for the football lovers of Pakistan and neither did they make their way to the grounds to see the games. The Karachi games were held at 11:30 am and that too at the Pakistan Steel’s ground at the outskirts to the city, a minimum of 2 hours are needed just to reach that place from the city. How is it possible that those games can be seen by the fans? To make these games more appealing, attractive, entertaining and exciting the Federation has paid secretaries in every provinces. The PFF should make arrangement such that fans can enjoy these games.
The 7th PFF league was also affected by the non-participation of teams from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtoon-Khuwa. Sindh has the biggest number of football clubs of any province of Pakistan, 500, and that no club from Sindh participated in the event is a thing of great concern and is a good question to the PFF. Last season Karachi Kickers and Qureshi Club from Hyderabad from Sindh and Zamindar Club (Abbottabad) and Dera XI (Dera Ismael Khan) represented Khyber Pakhtoon-Khwa. This time around teams from these provinces took no interest in participating in the league? The Secretary extended the dead line for registration many times but to no avail. It is 100 percent the duty of a paid Secretary to ensure participation from every region. Many clubs across the two provinces especially Karachi, consider participation in this tournament as an honour but why were they never approached? Thus there was no representation from Sindh for the event.
General Secretary PFF, Col (R) Ahmed Yar Lodhi should take a stern notice of the ignorance that led to this, or take a notice of any discrimination or targeting if any towards these provinces. He should ask those concerned for a detailed reply on why these two provinces had no representation in a National Event. But it is highly probable that this wouldn’t happen and the football administrators would once again stay quiet, be silent and let bygones be bygones.
This article is an extract from veteran journalist Riaz Ahmed’s article in Urdu for hamariweb.com.
The full article can be read at http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=10532
Don’t worry Pakistan’s big brother India too doesn’t have sponsor & Broadcast partner for this season :D
Football in South Asia is like cricket in Europe :D
since 1994 provincial secretaries have been paid 800 $ us each month in books at least.?!
Dear Mr. Riaz plz help karachi to start a ranking tournament so that in future their team is given representation.
if you dont know how to make it short give me call. for you my advice is free.
thank you.
perhaps 5 teams from each zone for Karachi CHampions league or super league. honest representation.
so that you get a fair champion of karachi and not any nominated team. so that is qualifies for 8th ppfl.?
Mr. Riaz,
Please expose non functional members of Sindh & Karachi Football associations for getting paid for nothing, now you have internet media to expose them without taking risk of your job.
This league does not represent best clubs of Karachi, so should not be called Karachi league, it should be called only Karachi (south & west zones) league.
There should be a separate league with winners & runner ups of all five zones of karachi.
Please mention how Karachi kickers were awarded entry to PFF league last year and before without winning the Karachi leagues.
I hope you will cover this in your reports.
Thanks
There haven’t been any league by districts to nominate the champion of Karachi. Normally all 5 zones of Karachi organize a district football league winner of which then participates in a league based format for Karachi Champion. This was only done in 2008 or 2009 of which winner was Karachi Kickers. Only Malir , West and this time around South also organized District league to at-least have a champion of their respective district, but District East and Central don’t even organize their District League on yearly basis.
It is not difficult to organize a karachi champions league, five teams (KESC, KPT, PIA, NBP & HBL) who are participating in premier league can sponsor each zone and can sponsor a champions league for for winners & runner ups from these zones to participate in a competitive league.
They can get REAL talent from this league.
There actually is a Karachi Football League taking place for last 8-9 years! We are covering it here this season. Its all about coordination between PFF, Sindh FA, and the various Zonal FAs of Karachi to send out their team for contention in PFF League!
There is a severe communication gap and ridiculous deadline dates that most people dont get to hear until too late
Dear Sir / Madam
I hope you are well.
Peace Heart Foundation is Registered Foundation, working for save the life of childrens, who have hole in their hearts.
our Fundation want to conduct a Musical Program in Nov 2011, for the support of Hole in the heart little kids for open heart surgery.
Please inform me, how i get Sponceship of you company,
Thanks.
Imtiaz Hussain abro
03332532051, 03008107517
http://www.phfpak.com
NATIONAL FUNDRAISING RPOGRAM @ HYDERABAD
DATE ON 26-11-2011 (EVENING)
(This Program will be conducted for hole in the heart little kids for the support in open heart surgery)
SINGER
Voice of Asia “Rahat Fateh Ali Khan”
TICKET
Student Pass 1500/-
Standard Pass 2500/-
Couple Pass 3000/-
Family Pass 5000/- ( Husband Wife 2 Children )
VIP Pass 5000/- ( Single Person )
More Information
Imtiaz Hussain Abro
Founder / Chairman
Peace Heart Foundation
Badin Sindh Pakistan.
Cell No: 03332532051/03332565989
phfpakistan@gmail.com
http://www.phfpak.com
Respected Sir/Madam/Colleague
Peace Heart Foundation is registered, non governmental Organization, which is registered under CDD in Badin in 2008, with its registration number (DO-SW-CDD-BDN-VA-143). Since its establishment PHF has been striving hard to bring those grabbed smiles back to the faces of children who have holes in their hearts often lose their battle for survival due to non availability of their cure and treatment in Pakistan. Establishment of such heart hospital in District Badin Sindh Pakistan, which could provide world standard treatment and surgery facilities to children having holes in their hearts, without the discrimination of caste, color, creed, religion and ethnical background. Many children die of this bloody and horrible disease as their poor and helpless parents can not afford to take them to India for their expensive treatment and surgeries. Strongly believing in “Saving a life is tantamount to saving the whole humanity.” Peace Heart Foundation has the honours to be the ever first organization in Pakistan which is working on children having holes in their hearts in 57 districts in Pakistan providing technical support to the parents of affected children by facilitating them in making contacts with the hospitals and doctors and also taking them to India and other countries of the world.
Could you pass by the heart rending sobbing and moaning of parents with their eyes wet with tears? Could you ignore a child who bleeds while spitting and vomits out blood fighting with death like a wrestler who is pulling all his powers and energies to touch the life line which is spreading distance making it hard for him to survive? One with a dull soul may over look taking it for granted, but people having a warm, throbbing heart full of sympathy for human beings will never afford to avoid such scenes. On of those were pioneers of Peace Heart Foundation whose hearts would bleed and eyes would shed the tears of blood when they would witness helpless parents seeing their children off saying good bye to life. They in spite of all their efforts and endeavors would be unable to save their children off the ruthless claws of death. This is the predicament of the children who have holes in their hearts who if timely treated may be brought back to life if not lose their lives.
Achievements so for by PHF
Peace Heart Foundation has so for succeeded in getting 108 children treated (including, medication, treatment, surgeries, tests, blood, transfusion, lodging, and boarding) with the financial help of Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal, Self Help Based Musical Night Shows, for Funds Raising, MNA/MPA Charity Funds, Multinational Companies and traders. The Foundation has been donated four acres of land for the construction of ever first heart hospital for treatment of the patients having holes in their hearts.
Appeal
Peace Heart Foundation has 35 cases of Children having holes in their hearts. Their treatment and surgery is not possible in Pakistan. The parents of the children can not afford to get them treated in India (adjoining country) due to extreme poverty. PHF has contacted the management and doctors of NARAYANA HURDAYALA HEART HOSPITAL BANGALORE INDIA, 258/A, Bommasandra Industrial Area, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore India, with Tel: 0091-080-27835000-018 Fax: 0091-080-27832648, 27835222.
They have announced a 35% discount package for the Pakistani children. The cost of treatment, surgery, blood, medicine, food, and accommodation etc, runs into Rs. 500,000/ (US $ 5882) per child. This package will be from 15 to 25 days including the lodging and boarding expenses of the parents of the children. The travel charges will be paid by the parents of the children. Peace Heart Foundation has decided to take these children to India. The total expenses on the whole trip will be Rs. 17,500,000 (US $ 205882) which the foundation doesn’t have resources to afford. The foundation has decided to donate Rs. 200.000/ (US $ 2352) for the purpose. The foundation is in dire need of remaining Rs.17,300,000 (US $ 203529) so that the lives of 35 children could be saved.
The Foundation, on behalf those poor parents, makes an earnest entreaty to your generous honor as this noble task can not be undertaken single handedly, and without your help. Your timely and gracious help can save these innocent lives which have not yet started blooming. Our delay can cause these 35 dimly burning candles to be blown out. Little aids by you, your relatives, and friends can prove to be a ray of hope for those children who are on the crossroads of life and death. The donations can be directly made to NARAYANA HURDAYALA HEART HOSPITAL BANGALORE INDIA or PEACE HEART FOUNDATIONS account Number given below.
Thanks,
IMTIAZ HUSSAIN ABRO
CHAIRMAN PHF
+92 0333 2532051
+92 0300 8107517
http://www.phfpak.com
Name of Bank: United Bank Limited
Branch Code: 0055
Title of Account: Peace Heart Foundation
No of Bank Account: 1009868-2