News Desk |
French footballer Nicolas Anelka landed in Islamabad early morning today (Tuesday) for his one-day visit. He has reached Pakistan to promote the World Soccer Stars Event 2019.
Anelka will meet the President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Syed Ashfaq Hussain. He will also visit the Centaurus Mall, Islamabad to interact with the public and meet his fans and followers.
He is the third footballer in line to visit Pakistan after legendary Luis Figo and Ricardo Kaka visited Pakistan for the promotion of the similar event.
“The visit is designed to help grow technical understanding for PFF through a partnership with TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars”, read the statement further.
A football tournament will be held in Karachi on Saturday 27th April along with the Akon’s concert. A football match under the same banner will be held in Lahore as well. The initiative of organizing soccer matches in Pakistan has been taken by Touch Sky Group’s World Soccer Star 2019.
Before arriving in Pakistan the former French player stated that he has a special connection with Pakistan after embracing Islam.
In the official statement, his visit to Pakistan has been described as an effort to “reinforce the development of a 20-point agenda to uplift football in Pakistan.” “Salam Pakistan, it’s Nicolas Anelka so get ready,” he says in a promotional video before explaining in a press release that his “participation is to help boost football in Pakistan.”
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“Having embraced Islam [in 2004], I have a special connection with Pakistan. I have forged a special relationship with World Soccer Stars tour. I am confident of this tour being one of its kinds. I look forward to exciting my fans in Pakistan on April 26 and 29 in Karachi and Lahore.”
The Press release also stated that “the expert knowledge of Anelka is based on the offensive coaching style, which he currently offers at Lille OSC Youth in France Ligue 1.”
“The visit is designed to help grow technical understanding for PFF through a partnership with TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars”, read the statement further.
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TouchSky Group CEO Ahmer Kunwar in his media talk stated that “our vision hails from the top down and bottom up approach to drive appropriate structures across core levels of football in Pakistan. Anelka’s visit is to discuss a deep-dive discussion with PFF on supporting the domestic league structure. The presence of Anelka reinforces our intent. He has taken a time-out before the tour to discuss a structured gateway to European football for Pakistani players.”