By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: PM Imran Khan’s Vision, Global Soccer Ventures’ Next Generation Football Trials Launching Ceremony Held at Islamabad Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Usman Dar, Shoaib Akhtar, British Deputy High Commissioner Ray Sun Blackburn, UEFA Coach Carl Frey, Chairman Yasir Mahmood and Zeeshan Yousuf attended the Launching Ceremony. Addressing the Ceremony, Usman Dar said that the Prime Minister was keen on the development of sports in the country. We are looking for heroes of successful youngsters like Shoaib Akhtar. There is a great need to work in sports in Pakistan. Young people do not get facilities for sports.Sports drive started on the direction of Prime Minister, we want young children to come to football more than cricket, 12 academies of different sports in 10 cities, high performance centers will be built, the venture will find talent in eleven places in ten cities of Pakistan, football Contacts are underway with FIFA to revive the federation. We have to give sports the status of economy, even today the legs of sportsmen are being stretched in Pakistan, we have to work together for the betterment of sports. He said that four billion rupees have been allocated for this program out of which two billion rupees. The money will be spent on the Talent Hunt program. We are working for the promotion of sports as per the vision of the Prime Minister.. Shoaib Akhtar said that my parents gave me football in my hands first, we all have a footballer somewhere, played football till the age of 16, revival of football in Pakistan is also my dream, a sports country Should not be, revival of other sports including hockey is very important, why only cricketers come forward in Pakistan, players of other sports should also come forward, there should be brand ambassadors of other sports including football, football and other sports in Pakistan. He said that my 12-year-old son is a footballer. He started playing cricket seeing the lack of interest in the game of football among his teammates. UEFA coach Carl Frey said that if Pakistan football is looking for talent, the talents of young footballers will be honed. UEFA coach Carl Frey says he wants talented Pakistani footballers to play as professional players in Europe, with 20 talented players to be selected through trials. while addressing to audience H.E. Mr. Eliasson Blackburn the British Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan said “Football is not just a sport but a way of life for many people in the UK. ”I am happy to have given a chance to Pakistan’s talented and young players,” he said.Chairman Yasir Mehmood said that he took up this task to provide opportunity to Pakistani football players. Zeeshan Yousuf also addressed the Launching Ceremony. More over earlier the Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) has enlisted star-studded glitz and glamour in full throttle to revolutionize football in Pakistan. The move comes after Michael Owen unveiled the national talent hunt drive, it was announced last week following a global virtual conference which includes plans for the flagship soccer city in Karachi with NED University in collaboration with Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive under Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Usman Dar. The awesome foursome lineup includes Mahira Khan, Ahad Raza Mir, Bilal Ashraf, and Mushk Kaleem. The celebrity prowess has come together to become Pakistan football’s official mouthpiece for the largest private commercial enterprise GSV and with a collective mission to re-ignite football all over Pakistan.Mahira Khan, the queen of Pakistan’s silver screen is no stranger to breaking new boundaries having starred in Bollywood blockbuster Raees with Shahrukh Khan in 2017. Mahira now turns her attention to pushing all boundaries to make way for football.Mahira Khan said, “It is a great privilege to be part of a whole new sports legacy with football. The football landscape is literally being constructed by GSV and it is a testament to their persistence and resilience to making it a success for Pakistan. Football needs attention as a matter of priority in Men’s and Women’s football in Pakistan being my area of greater interest. I am part of this vision and fully vested in GSV’s BIG idea. I look forward to contributing towards its success so I call on all budding football players to sign up now for the trials”.Ahad Raza Mir, the powerhouse Actor. This critically acclaimed actor’s performances have won him awards across the globe, in film, television, and theatre, making him one of the most recognizable faces of our industry. Having a strong affinity for football and its power of connecting people, Ahad Raza Mir joins the formidable lineup. Ahad is taking the reins of football in Pakistan to unravel a new legacy with football in Pakistan with GSV.Ahad Raza Mir, said, “I believe in the power of the youth, and being part of this initiative gives me a strong sense of pride. Now I wish to create a new legacy for the youth through football in Pakistan. GSV has the vision and the strategy to take Pakistan’s football to new heights. I sincerely look forward to being part of creating history in Pakistan with football – so make sure you register for the trials and secure your future in Europe”.Mushk Kaleem, Pakistan’s fashion sensation stunned Italy in Milan Fashion Week (MFW) on the catwalk and now GSV has installed Kaleem to promote its football strategy in Pakistan. Kaleem will inject new dynamics into football with football at the heart of her assertive and vocal opinions.Kaleem said, “Football is a glamorous sport so I connected instantly with GSV’s vision designed to rejuvenate football in Pakistan. For me it’s more than just football, it’s about the entire nation being empowered to get involved with the forgotten sport and regardless of what you do and where you come from so, Pakistan embraces yourself”.Bilal Ashraf, film actor and director, a superstar sensation with several blockbusters like Superstar, Janaan, and Rangreza to his name is fanatical about football. Bilal wants the world’s most popular game to succeed in Pakistan and visited Chelsea FC to discuss the future of football in Pakistan.Bilal Ashraf said, “This is a huge step in the right direction for Pakistan. My sole energy and passion scream out to develop football in Pakistan so we have nothing less to shout about other than #FootballHoga, register, go, and trial to showcase your talent at the UEFA-inspired program being delivered nationwide for the first time ever in Pakistan”. Yasir Mahmood, Group Chairman of GSV said, “I feel football has just come alive with the world of glamour, film, and sports coming forward to take control of the football. This is the penultimate art of collaboration in Pakistan’s football”.Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV said, “I am really excited by the level of support from the film and television celebrities turning their attention to football. GSV has added a new dimension to football with the tinsel town of Pakistan carrying the beacon of light offering a bright future for football in Pakistan”. Earlier the President Islamic republic of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi held top table talks with board members of Global Soccer Ventures (GSV) Yasir Mehmood, Chairman Zabe Khan, Chief Executive Officer and Saqib Rafiq Chaudhry, Chief Operating Officer to become the custodians of football through its private football enterprise forging a strategic alliance between UK and Pakistan.
With former England and Liverpool star Michael Owen unveiled last week as The PFL Ambassador, Owen sent a public message on twitter to meet President Dr. Arif Alvi in Pakistan soon. The hopes of millions across the nation have been rekindled and the world’s most popular game’s next destination is Pakistan. Pakistan’s President Dr. Arif Alvi said “plans are very exciting and more importantly realistic. GSV is what Pakistan needs and they will work without any affiliation to any PFF faction and with no interference from the FIFA NC – this is about football in Pakistan. Football needs experts like GSV to create a new sports economy in Pakistan which never existed or understood in Pakistan and put simply even I do now”. Zabe Khan CEO of GSV said “My remit is to recalibrate our nation with a future proof football ecosystem. The UK and Pakistan partnership in football is all set to flourish in a sustainable development plan to finally give Pakistan a level playing field to meet international standards”. Yasir Mehmood, Chairman of GSV said “Football all over the world belongs to the private sector – so why should Pakistan be any different. It is about time we revive 70 years of football that has been lost in translation and misinterpreted by many so it is time a UK join forces
GSV is investing and creating a new sports economy in Pakistan worth $60 million over the next 5 years and will prioritise on the crippled football infrastructure in Pakistan. The stadium design and schedule was disclosed to President Dr. Arif Alvi in this high level meeting. More than the league, the state of the art stadium has created a sense of excitement amongst senior government officials in Pakistan. The public speculation over the design of the stadium is also gathering momentum with plans to unveil it from the home of football in England next month.
