Blatter hails PFF for boosting Women Soccer in Pakistan

PESHAWAR—FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter has hailed Pakistan Football Federation Chief Faisal Saleh Hayat for taking tangible steps in boosting football among Pakistani women.
“We are looking forward to contribute to the development of women’s football in Pakistan. The first-ever National Women Football Championship and National Seminar on Development of Women Football in Pakistan have been a big success,” this was stated by FIFA President Joseph Sepp Blatter in an appreciation letter to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat.
Faisal Saleh Hayat himself inaugurated the eight-team National Championship and National Seminar on Development of Women Football in which several well-known speakers including Mohsin Gillani, FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) Assistant Development Officer, and Philippines’s Cristina Ramos, Member of Committee for Women’s Football and FIFA Women’s Competitions.
It is encouraging that Mohsin and Cristina participated in the seminar and helped in promoting football amongst Pakistani women, said Swiss-born Blatter, 69, who took over from Brazilian Joao Havelange on June 8, 1998 to become the eighth President of FIFA.
He intends to run for re-election in 2007, if he is still in good health and believes that he can continue in the role until 2011, said a PFF media release issued here Friday.
The FIFA Goal Project, initiated by Blatter and ratified at the FIFA Extraordinary Congress in Los Angeles on July 9, 1999, is a milestone in history of FIFA.
Cristina, chief guest during last month Punjab-Sindh semi-final, called PFF President’s planning on Women soccer is a big landmark and hoped that Pakistan will build up a strong national women team by 2007 to compete in 16th edition of Asian Women Championship.
She added, “women would be given due rights and respect in the field of football and scarf’s and trousers would be given according to Islamic principles and ethics. Infrastructure must be made strong for the development of women football in the country”.—PR