KARACHI: England football legend Michael Owen has arrived in Pakistan on his two-day trip to participate in various football-related initiatives and meet high-level officials.
According to state-broadcaster PTV, the legendary footballer will promote international football in the country in collaboration with Global Soccer Ventures (GSV).
“Owen will attend a dinner hosted by President Dr Arif Alvi and a meeting with Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa is expected as well”, the PTV added. Meanwhile, GSV said the former footballer would meet Prime Minister Imran Khan too.
آرمی چیف سے ملاقات بھی متوقع۔
مائیکل اوین صدر پاکستان، ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کی جانب سے دئیے گئے عشائیے میں شرکت کریں گےمائیکل اوین جی ایس وی کی جانب سے پاکستان میں فٹبال کی بحالی کے پروگرام کا خاکہ پیش کرنے کے علاوہ کراچی میں پہلے ساکر سٹی کا سنگ بنیاد رکھیں گے۔
— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) January 25, 2022
Owen will then visit Karachi on Thursday to attend a press conference at NED University, where he will officially hold a groundbreaking ceremony. The images of Pakistan’s first-ever Soccer City will also be revealed on Thursday.
Michael Owen said, “I am really excited to be at the helm of Pakistan’s largest football transformation programme and delighted to be discharged with the responsibility to take football to a whole new level in Pakistan”.
Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV, said, “There is not much to say when England’s pride and joy takes the top job to revive football in Pakistan. Michael has been a very loyal servant to Liverpool and his commitment and loyalty to making Pakistan a successful football nation seems relentless”.
Owen had signed a three-year deal in September to become the official ambassador of the Pakistan Football League (PFL). Owen’s “hybrid role” will include creating a global professional gateway for new Pakistani footballers who can adapt to the modern form of the game.
The Pakistan Football Federation led by Ashfaq Hussain Shah had signed a partnership with GSV in August to launch the PFL and upgrade the infrastructure for football in the country.
The private venture announced last month it had struck a special strategic partnership with the prime minister’s Kamyab Jawan programme in a bid to groom Pakistan’s football talent.
