Pakistan, Islamabad, Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Under-14 (Boys) Festival of football has been launched on Wednesday at Jinnah Stadium Islamabad in a most colorful manner. The opening ceremony was started with the passing out parade of the participating teams of Pakistan, Pakistan A, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The opening ceremony was witnessed by a large gathering of football fans.
According to the press release issued here by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Mr. Paul Molloy, the Australian Deputy High Commissioner who was the chief guest at the ceremony said that encouraging young people of both sexes to become involved in sports is a main aim of the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP). We also hope that the PFF’s initiatives will have important spill-over effects on the wider community, such as promoting health and well-being, and enhancing social cohesion. Such activity reflects the true spirit of our mutual goal for the enhancement of sport activity among our youth,
AFC’s Project Manager John Vittal said: “I would like to advise the participating teams to take advantage of this opportunity offered to you. All teams should establish friendly relations with each other for updating their knowledge and developing new skills through such festival”.
General Secretary, PFF, Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi TI (M), speaking at the inauguration ceremony said that AFC U-14 (Boys) Festival of Football will benefit the Pakistani football in all aspects of the game. “I would like to thank AFC for providing this opportunity to Pakistan and I am hopeful that this will boost PFF drive for improvement of football in Pakistan”, Mr. Lodhi added.
Pakistan who has been given the rights to host the AFC U-14 (Boys) Festival of Football 2012 for the Central region is prepared for both the organising of the event and their own participating team. The Festivals are less about competition and more about providing an arena for talented juniors from their respective regions to play against each other and forge bonds of friendship. The first week of the Festival is more focused on educating the coaches and referees to prepare them for the matches in the second week.
Express Tribune adds:
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under-14 festival will kick off at the Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex today. Arrangements were finalised to stage the four-team international event under the banner of the AFC. Afghanistan, Tajikistan and two teams from Pakistan will take part in the five-day juniors’ football gala.
Organising Committee Chairman Fazalur Rehman, however, expressed his disappointment at the refusal of Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. “Initially, seven teams including one from Pakistan were to compete in the event,” said Rahman. “Now four teams will be in action, including two from Pakistan, and we have assured them full security.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2012.
AFC U-14 (Boys) Festival of Football, Islamabad
Match Result (11-04-2012)
Match No 1
Tajikistan beat Pakistan 1-0
Tajikistan: Akmed Jaffer 1 Goal at 20 Minutes.
Match No 2
Afghanistan beat Pakistan-A 1-0
Afghanistan: Sher Ahmed Hussaini 1 Goal at 30 Minutes.
Match No 3
Tajikistan beat Pakistan-A 2-0
Tajkistan: Muhammad Sharipor 2 Goals at 15 & 22 Minutes
Match No 4
Afghanistan vs Pakistan 0-0 draw
Match No 5
Pakistan beat Pakistan A 3:0
Pakistan: Shahzaib 1 Goal @ 17 Minute, Hassam 1 Goal @ 26 Minute and Muneer 1 Goal @ 28 Minute.
Match No 6
Afghanistan vs Tajikistan 0:0 draw
Tomorrow Fixtures Thursday (12-04-2012)
Match No 7: Pakistan vs Pakistan A @ 0830 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad
Match No 8: Tajikistan vs Afghanistan @ 0905 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad
Match No 9: Tajikistan vs Pakistan A @ 0940 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad
Match No 10: Afghanistan vs Pakistan @ 1015 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad
Match No 11: Afghanistan vs Pakistan A @ 1050 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad
Match No 12: Pakistan vs Tajikistan @ 1125 Hours PST @ Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad