Sports Bulletin Report
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a distinctive football identity for Pakistan, with a strong focus on improving players' abilities, mastering the fundamentals of the game and strengthening the domestic football structure.
The commitment was highlighted during a press conference held at a local hotel in Islamabad on Sunday morning, following Pakistan's historic participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.
Addressing the media after the team's return, head coach Ehsanullah Khan said the primary objective of participating in the international event was to develop players' abilities, expose them to international football and provide opportunities to compete against teams representing different football cultures.
He said the coaching staff had encouraged players to take the field without fear of defeat, express themselves confidently and concentrate on the basic principles of football.
According to Ehsanullah Khan, successful football nations have exceptional command over the fundamentals of the game, and Pakistan's preparations were also focused on adopting the same approach. He expressed confidence that consistent efforts to strengthen these foundations could help Pakistan emerge among the leading football nations in the world.
The head coach thanked PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani and the federation for ensuring that young players did not miss this valuable learning opportunity. He also appreciated the support of parents who travelled to Azerbaijan to encourage their children.
He further acknowledged the PFF president's personal encouragement of the players and his announcement of an additional cash reward of Rs. 25,000 for each member of the squad.
Discussing areas requiring improvement, Ehsanullah Khan identified the practical execution of basic skills and defensive transitions as key aspects that needed further attention. He said addressing these shortcomings would require time, consistent training and more opportunities to participate in competitive football.
PFF Technical Director Adeel Rizki said participation in the World Cup provided Pakistan with an important opportunity to assess its capabilities at the international level and understand the gap between the country's football standards and those of other competing nations.
He clarified that results were secondary during the campaign, while the main objective was to enhance players' abilities and identify areas requiring further development.
Responding to a question about the future of domestic football, Adeel Rizki stressed the need to reorganise the existing structure and establish a systematic development pathway from the grassroots level. He said the federation was focusing on identifying talented players at an early stage, providing them with proper training and ensuring that promising talent was not wasted due to a lack of opportunities.
PFF Director Media and Communications Umaid Wasim, responding to a question about government support, said government-operated facilities were available for training activities. He also highlighted the provision of accommodation for participating teams and venues for matches during the domestic U-17 Championship.
Sharing his experience of the international event, Pakistan U-15 player Ilhan Khan said he was extremely proud and happy to represent the country. He added that Pakistan performed well against strong opponents, including Jordan, and could have achieved a better position in the tournament by converting important scoring opportunities.
Another squad member, Owais, also expressed gratitude to PFF President Syed Mohsin Gilani for his continued support and encouragement throughout the campaign.
