LAHORE: FIFA has given a go ahead signal to its Pakistan chapter for the construction of the second Goal Project in Karachi at an estimated cost of US$600,000.
The first FIFA Goal Project here was built in Lahore. A similar project, under the Earthquake Programme, is in progress in Peshawar.
The formal approval for Karachis project was given after the Goal Project in charge for South and Central Asia Manilal Fernando awarded the contract to the two different companies that had earlier filled the tenders, here on Friday.
FIFA has already approved a hefty amount of US$400,000 for the land in Hawkesbay’s Scheme 42, Plot No 13 A-1 under the Lyari Development Project.
The total cost of the project, to be built on 10 acres of land, would be around US$600,000.
The PFF had chosen the said piece of land at Hawkesbay after having given up on their first choice at Trans Lyari Park, Old Golimar, Manghopir Road.
While speaking at a press conference here on Friday, PFF President Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said that the work on Karachis project would commence soon.
Manilal hoped that the new project would help the PFF change the destiny of emerging talent in Karachi.
He said it would take 10 months for the completion of the project from the moment it would start.
The Goal Bureau approved the construction of the Karachi project on Dec 3, 2006.
“Karachis project will mark the delicate steps for the game’s journey towards professionalism. FIFA will provide $400,000 for construction of the project having a facility for 96 players, a gymnasium, swimming pool, auditorium, playing surface, coach rooms, canteen, etc.
“The future of football is in Asia and Pakistan is a part of Asia. We want them to reach glory while reaching the international level in football. The PFF and AFC will work hand-in-hand in the future to make that dream come true,” promised Manilal.
Manilal had called the Lahore project as one of the best around the globe and he hoped that their consultants and contractors in Karachi would also show their ability in constructing a fine Football House which would contribute in the overall development of the game in Pakistan.
Faisal said Karachi would be the second city to have the FIFA Goal Project after Lahore.
A technical centre and headquarters for the association was built in Lahore as part of the Goal Programme with the Goal Bureau approving the project at its March 4, 2002, meet, he said while adding that FIFA also promised to help PFF with more projects after the completion of the Football House in Karachi.
The other project, the Earthquake Project, going on is in full swing at Peshawar, was first awarded to Muzaffarabad after the 2005 earthquake but it was shifted to Peshawar after Azad Kashmir failed to provide appropriate land for it.
The Goal Programme is a brainchild of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, and it was launched for the 1999-2002 period with funds of CHF100 million.
The programme then graduated to the Goal-II stage, again with funds of CHF100 million available for the 2003-2006 period, and it is now in the Goal-III stage with funds of US$120 million for the 2007-2010 period.
The aim of the programme, launched on June 9, 1999, during the Los Angles FIFA Congress, is to help promote projects in financially underprivileged associations, providing headquarters, natural and artificial turf pitches, training and education centres and other facilities that are essential to a basic infrastructure.
The programme’s first aim was reached at the end of 2006 when each member association had its own Football House.
So far, 158 of the 366 projects in the pipeline have been officially inaugurated, with a further 17 currently in the planning stage.
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