Despite yesterday’s devastating defeat to Iraq in the U23 qualifying round, the potential for athletic excellence in Pakistan is not a myth. Our nation is a world champion in squash, hockey, cricket, and snooker, proving our inherent capacity to compete and win on the global stage. Yet, in football, we consistently fail to qualify for even the first stage of competition at any age group.
As a footballer with firsthand experience, I see this not as a lack of talent but a profound failure of structure and management. The loss to Iraq is merely a symptom of deep-rooted problems. The reasons for our stagnation are clear and systemic:
Corruption and Nepotism: Key positions within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and national team setup are filled based on favoritism and references, not merit. This creates an environment where personal gain is prioritized over national pride.
Lack of Vision and Strategy: There is no long-term plan to build a competitive squad. Management lacks the vision to create a winning culture and break the cycle of defeat.
Narrow and Biased Player Selection: Player selection is often restricted to a few favored clubs and cities, based on connections rather than objective assessment of skill and form. This overlooks a vast pool of potential talent across the country.
Inadequate Preparation: There is a severe lack of proper training camps and fitness programs. Teams are often assembled only weeks before a major tournament, leaving players ill-prepared for the rigors of international competition.
Outdated Coaching Methods: Technical coaching is obsolete and fails to incorporate modern football philosophies, data analysis, and sports science, leaving us far behind in an era defined by AI and automation.
Poor Physical Fitness: Players are consistently unable to maintain the intensity required for a full 90-minute match at the international level, a direct result of poor conditioning and preparation.
Nonexistent Domestic Structure: The absence of a robust, competitive club league system means players do not emerge through a natural competitive process. Instead, selection is based on personal contacts, stifling organic growth.
A Closed Ecosystem at the Top: A specific, entrenched group within the PFF operates with impunity. Their benefits are tied to their positions, making them unwilling to step aside despite proven incompetence, corruption, and favoritism.
Powerless Foreign Coaches: When international coaches are hired—often as a publicity stunt—they are not empowered to make independent decisions. They are compromised by the existing system, rendering their expertise ineffective.
Until these fundamental issues are addressed with courage and transparency, the result will remain the same: embarrassing defeats on the scoreboard and unfulfilled potential off it. The dream of Pakistani football emerging on the world stage depends on a complete systemic overhaul.
