Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsin Gillani has admitted that a decade of internal conflicts and disputes has caused “immense damage” to the national sport. He asserted that he is now working on a “war footing” to repair this damage.
He expressed these views during a conversation with “Jang” at the Hyderabad Press Club. Gillani, who took office four months ago, stated he has been in “constant contact” with FIFA, the AFC, and the Pakistani football community to fix the situation as quickly as possible.
He shared positive news that both FIFA and the AFC have “assured their full support” for the development of Pakistani football.
The PFF president noted that several goals have already been achieved in this short four-month period. He announced that regional tournaments in Sindh will soon be followed by national-level tournaments.
Gillani emphasized the critical importance of the grass-roots level, stating, “The future of football in Pakistan is linked to inter-school tournaments.” He stressed that the sport cannot progress until it is developed from the ground up.
He also highlighted the severe lack of infrastructure, pointing out that Pakistan currently has only one international-standard ground (Jinnah Football Ground, Islamabad). He insisted that “at least one international-standard football ground should be in every region.” He concluded by noting that the government has also assured its full cooperation.
