Former Chelsea, Real Madrid star Nicolas Anelka expected in Pakistan on Tuesday

[SecondSlip]

Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and France striker Nicolas Anelka will visit Islamabad on Tuesday to meet the president of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Syed Ashfaq Shah, and to "reinforce the development of a 20-point agenda to uplift football in Pakistan".

Anelka's visit to the capital comes as part of the World Soccer Stars 2019 initiative of the TouchSky Group. The group also brought legendary footballers Ricardo Kaka and Luis Figo to Pakistan in January, and plans on holding exhibition matches in Karachi and Lahore in April.

"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."

Anelka, who also visited Pakistan in 2017 to play two matches headlined by Ronaldinho, further adds: "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 kind. I look forward to exciting my fans in Pakistan on April 26 and 29 in Karachi and Lahore."

"The expert knowledge of Anelka is based on the offensive coaching style, which he currently offers at Lille OSC Youth in France Ligue 1," said the press release. "The visit is designed to help grow technical understanding for PFF through a partnership with TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars."

TouchSky Group CEO Ahmer Kunwar said "our vision hails from 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."

"I am delighted to discuss the real development needs for football and unearth a realistic football grass-roots structure for PFF," said Robert Lewis, the head of TSG-World Soccer Stars. "I am committed to sustainable growth in football and really impressed with the appetite for football there is in the market."

Anelka's visit of Islamabad will end at the Centauras Mall, where he will be unveiled to football fans so he could "energise, motivate, inspire and help grow their confidence in football".

World Soccer Stars is a set of showcase football matches scheduled to be held in Karachi and Lahore on aforementioned dates. The matches will also see American singer Akon do a live concert for the first time in Pakistan.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1467199

 

[PakLFC]

I am sure we are gonna be a Footballing force with 100 years

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Former Chelsea and French international footballer Nicolas Anelka arrived in Islamabad this morning as part of the World Soccer Stars.

The £90 million man, who has represented PSG, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and France at the international level arrived in Islamabad following in the footsteps of Ricardo Kaka and Luis Figo.

TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars has enlisted Anelka as a crucial signing in pursuit to revive and uplift football in Pakistan. Following the unveiling of Kaka, Figo and Akon on January 10 in Karachi and Lahore, Anelka has also penned a strategic long term deal with World Soccer Stars.

Anelka will meet the new President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Mr Syed Ashfaq Shah to reinforce the development of the 20 point agenda to uplift football. The aspiration of millions of football fanatics in Pakistan is now about making their dreams become a reality and not only to witness world-class players arriving in Pakistan with exhibition matches but to inject new life line into football offering real tangible outcomes for Pakistan.

The former Chelsea star will meet football fans at Centaurus Mall where he will energise, motivate, inspire and help grow confidence in football through World Soccer Stars tour in Pakistan.

His visit is designed to help grow technical understanding for PFF through a partnership with TouchSky Group-World Soccer Stars. “My participation is to help boost football in Pakistan and having embraced Islam 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 kind on April 26-29, 2019 in Karachi and Lahore so look forward to exciting my fans in Pakistan,” Anelka said ahead of his arrival.

Ahmer Kunwar of TSG-World Soccer Stars said our vision hails from 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 and the presence of Anelka reinforces our intent who has taken time out before the tour to discuss structured gateway to European football for Pakistani players,” he said.

Robert Lewis Head of TSG-World Soccer Stars said I am delighted to discuss the real development needs for football and unearth a realistic football grass-roots structure for PFF. I am committed to sustainable growth in football and really impressed with the appetite football has in the market.

A football match and concert featuring AKON will be held in Karachi on Saturday, April 27 and in Lahore on Sunday, April, 28.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/230042-former-chelsea-star-nicolas-anelka-arrives-in-islamabad

 

[Slog]

He was here last year too so big deal

 

[giri26]

Anelka offers to return to Pakistan to help aspiring footballers

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka on Tuesday offered to visit Pakistan again in future to train aspiring footballers and help the Beautiful Game grow in the country.

Anelka made the remarks during a press conference in Islamabad, where he was to meet PFF's newly elected president Syed Ashfaq Shah.

"We have to speak to the federation but if they ask me to come back, I'm free, I'll come back again and again," said the Frenchman. "I played for 20 years and now it's time to give to the kids who are learning."

The PFF president, who assumed the top football office in the country by virtue of his controversial victory over his predecessor — Faisal Saleh Hayat — also sat alongside Anelka during the press conference in the capital.

Shah urged TouchSky Group, the company responsible for bringing Anelka as well as Ricardo Kaka and Luis Figo to Pakistan, to up its efforts to boost football in Pakistan.

"I have already told the TSG group that to bring a soccer player and then a big gap is not enough," the PFF president said. "Until and unless there is a continuity, we cannot do it. We have been working on it for the last two months hopefully we will come up with something that is in the interest of Pakistan and Pakistan football. That's our main objective. God willing, you will see football [grow] in Pakistan."

While the arrival of football superstars is appreciated in Pakistan, the purpose and long-term plan of the visits remain hazy at best.

When TouchSky Group CEO Ahmer Kunwar was asked to elaborate what the group wants to achieve, he said: "We have brought these icons here because local players here need motivation and confidence.

"We cannot suddenly open football schools or academies because there is not much infrastructure here but we are now working with a few stakeholders in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, where these stars will collaborate and conduct some training in future."

Since being voted out, Hayat, the former PFF chief has reportedly become the vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Ashfaq today urged Hayat to use his position for the better of Pakistan football.

"Faisal sahab if you are a Pakistani and have made it to the AFC, then fight for the right of Pakistan," he said. I do not want to indulge in mudslinging. I request him to use his position to work for the future of Pakistan football."

Ashfaq's election has been mired in controversy as while he has the local courts' backing, FIFA had at one point sided with Hayat and even suspended the PFF for what it said was "undue third-party interference".

The new PFF chief, however, dispelled the notion that FIFA, football's global governing body, has a problem with the way he assumed the top office.

"FIFA has never sent us a letter that talks about derecognition or anything. FIFA and AFC have only seen one face of Pakistan as only one person was occupying the office for the last 15 and a half years. I have been here for just two months.

"The law of the land prevails over anything. I cannot sit here and violate the law. Our election has two phases. The one in which Faisal Saleh Hayat won he accepts it, the one he lost, he does not accept. I did not conduct this election. It was conducted on Supreme Court of Pakistan's directives and within its building.

"They are stuck on one point, which is third-party intervention. If there were any third party intervention then Amir Dogar would have been the PFF president. He isn't because the government did not interfere."

https://www.dawn.com/news/1467791/anelka-offers-to-return-to-pakistan-to-help-aspiring-footballers

 

[shaaik]

Watched his interview on Ptv Sports was talking about helping pakistan football to grow and become better in the years to come..

 

[KingKhanWC]

Met him in Dubai a couple of years ago. Had a nice chat to him and asked him about his time in the Premier League.

Was an incredible talent and is a very nice chap.

Pakistan should invest in football and improve their main league.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE - Cricket and football come together as Barcelona legend Carlos Puyol will be arriving Karachi to witness the grand finale of the Pakistan Super League on March 17.

He will engage with fans in Karachi to kick off World Soccer Stars and officially release ticket sales on Yayvo and TCS. Carles Puyol, aka Captain Fantastic, arrives Karachi today (Saturday) to promote football in the country besides witnessing the final of the grand event, said World Soccer Stars spokesperson here on Friday.

Puyol said: “Karachi, I look forward to seeing you all and I am really excited to meet all my fans in Pakistan at the one and only PSL final. World Soccer Stars presents a great opportunity to celebrate the arrival of football and from what I know football is the next emerging sport in Pakistan.” World soccer stars Kaka and Figo congratulated the return of cricket back home and stated in a video for fans that after cricket, football is also coming back to Pakistan.

Ahmer Kunwar of TouchSky Group said: “It’s a real privilege to see the bedrock of FC Barcelona defence in Pakistan and we are proud to see him as the official face to kick off World Soccer Stars tour on 27 April in Karachi and 28 April in Lahore. I also thank Ehsan Mani of Pakistan Cricket Board to allow us to grace his penultimate occasion with cricket in Pakistan.”

Puyol’s visit will also involve fan engagement at Dolmen Mall Clifton where he will meet fans and release special edition of VR headsets signed by Captain Fantastic. For the very first time soccer and AKON in concert will be experienced in virtual reality so be there to ensure you buy your headsets before stocks run out. The headsets will be available from World Soccer Stars stands in Dolmen Mall and some lucky winners might get the golden VR headset signed by Puyol himself.

Puyol is a Spanish retired professional footballer who spent his entire career with his local childhood team FC Barcelona. Puyol is regarded as one of the best defenders and leaders of his generation. On March 16 and 17, Karachi will truly witness all stars from the world of cricket, music, film and now also football celebrating with the arrival of FC Barcelona’s legend Carles Puyol to kick off World Soccer Stars.

World Soccer Stars is a celebration of international football in Pakistan featuring Kaka, Figo, Puyol and Anelka in an exhibition match.

As part of the match AKON will be closing the exhibition matches in Karachi and Lahore with a live concert for the ultimate smack that showdown.

World Soccer Stars is being played on Saturday (April 27, 2019) in Karachi and Sunday (April 28, 2019) in Lahore. Kick off time is 6.30pm. The soccer stars and AKON will arrive in Pakistan on Friday (April 26, 2019) ahead of the tour.

https://nation.com.pk/16-Mar-2019/c...gether-as-barcelona-legend-heads-to-psl-final

 

[MenInG]

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Quite a surprise to see Puyol pop up on screen in Karachi, he was a bit of an idol in that Spanish defence as well as for Barca. Hopefully the game will continue to grow, cricket is great but being a smaller game worldwide is prone to be held hostage by influential countries.

 

[Rana]

Would love to see Ibrahimovic visit Pakistan one day.

Ibra does not visit Pakistan, Pakistan visits Ibra!

 

[Saj]

Interesting documentary on Netflix about Anelka at the moment.