National Challenge Football Cup to kick off in January

LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Friday that the National Challenge Football Cup will start in January, where 32 teams will participate.

The managers' meeting of the departments was held in Lahore on Thursday, and the participants expressed great enthusiasm for restoration of football activities in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PFF Normalisation Committee (NC) Haroon Malik said that the departments have played an important role for the promotion of football in the country.

"I hope that the revival of this event will give the talented players ample opportunities to come forward. We welcome the participants," he added.

Meanwhile, member NC Shahid Niaz Khokhar said that after opening the doors of international football to national team, they are trying to restore domestic football activities.

After the suspension of the series in March 2021, the Challenge Cup will be the first major step to revive the game at the national level. It must be noted that the schedule of the event will be announced soon.

Pakistan men's team returned to international football after more than three years against Nepal in their backyard this November.

The Shaheens lost to the host 1-0 at the Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu.

FIFA lifts ban on PFF

FIFA had decided to lift ban on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), which was imposed in April 2021 due to undue third-party interference, in June earlier this year.

FIFA also extended the mandate of the Normalisation Committee (NC) by 12 months.

According to FIFA, the mandate of the normalisation committee includes the managing of PFF’s daily affairs, ensuring the proper registration and scrutiny of the clubs in Pakistan, draft and ratify, with the assistance of FIFA and the AFC, an electoral code for the PFF, organise the elections at district followed by provincial levels and conduct the elections of a new PFF executive committee.

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