Iranian coaches to train Pakistani footballers, says PFF

Dailytimes - Iranian coaches will train the Pakistani soccer players, a spokesman for the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) told Daily Times here Friday. He said Iran Football Federation’s (IFF) general secretary Mohammad Nabi Mehdi had assured that Iran would help the PFF promote soccer in Pakistan. “The Iranian federation has also assured us that soon an Iranian youth team will undertake the tour of Pakistan,” he added. “The climate of both Pakistan and Iran is similar but the game plan and techniques of both teams are different. And Pakistani footballers can learn a lot from Iran as they are at top of FIFA world rankings (Asian Zone),” he said.

The spokesman said PFF president Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat recently visited Iran and met a four-member delegation headed by Nabi Mehdi. “Faisal told the Iranians regarding progress achieved in promoting football in Pakistan in recent years.” He said Faisal had appreciated the offer extended to the PFF by Iran.

“The PFF will send a draft MOU to the IFF for its consideration and discussion on the same during 22nd AFC Congress to be held at Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on May 7-8 May.” He said regular football exchanges would promote bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran on soccer issues.