Daily Times

LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) may have been suspended by the FIFA and Pakistan failed to qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but a piece of history was created when 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Pakistan for the first time here on Saturday in a chartered plane from Bangkok, Thailand. The trophy tour plane touched down at Allama Iqbal International Airport in the afternoon and then the trophy was whisked to an unveiling ceremony at Pearl Continental Hotel. France’s World Cup-winning former footballer Christian Karembeu, along with a host of stars including Pakistan legendary batsman Younus Khan, accompanied the trophy on the Pakistan leg of its world tour. The FIFA World Cup trophy tour stop in Pakistan was organised by Coca-Cola. Pakistan is one of 51 countries that have never had the opportunity to host it before. The trophy came to Lahore as part of a journey that would see it travel to 51 countries and 91 cities across six different continents, before settling back in host-nation Russia in May. Hundreds of fans descended upon Pearl Continental Hotel to have a glimpse at the solid-gold trophy. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly the viewing of the World Cup trophy up close and taking home a personalised photo.

“Assalam-o-Alaikum!” Karembeu, who played for France and Real Madrid in a glittering playing career greeted the gathered audience with. “I am extremely happy to be here in Lahore. Pakistan also has football-loving folks. It is a great honour for Pakistan that the FIFA trophy is here for the first time. We can make our future better through football.” He said it was a big day for football in Pakistan. “I am here in Pakistan to prove that football unites the world,” said the former star, as he shared his excitement about being here for the special occasion. The 47-year-old urged football fans in Pakistan to never stop dreaming and aiming high. “Continue to dream, be persistent with your goals. How else will you achieve your dreams?” he said. Pakistan men’s football team captain Kaleemullah Khan, women’s football skipper Hajra Khan and several showbiz personalities were also present at the trophy’s unveiling ceremony.

“For me, football is one of the most popular sports in the world,” said Younus. “It is a really big deal that the FIFA trophy is here.” A proud football fan, Younus said he was “honoured” to be part of the delegation bringing the World Cup trophy to Pakistan on its world tour. An ecstatic Kaleemullah said: “I had never even imagined that the FIFA trophy would come to Pakistan. It is encouraging for footballers to have the FIFA trophy come to Pakistan. I feel that one day Pakistan would also do well in football.” He added that events like this were crucial for bolstering the budding talent in Pakistan and would surely hearten many football enthusiasts and young, aspiring players who wanted to play football in future.

Speaking on the occasion, general manager Coca-Cola Pakistan and Afghanistan Rizwan Khan said: “Today is a special day. It is the first historic visit of the World Cup trophy. In addition, today represents a tangible embodiment of the positive journey that is underway in Pakistan. This tour will help bring football fans across Pakistan closer to the greatest prize in the world of football. The FIFA World Cup trophy tour is the ultimate ode to the glory of football and we are proud to be associated with this initiative.” Pakistan women’s football team skipper Hajra said the passionate reception and positive energy from fans today was a testament that Pakistan was indeed part of the global stage.

The Pakistan Football Federation was suspended by FIFA over third-party interference last year, which meant FIFA did not have any official contacts with the PFF. The World Cup trophy had come at a time when the game had almost come to a point of stagnation in Pakistan. All that came after a controversial election of the PFF in 2015. The dispute over the election saw the Lahore High Court (LHC) intervene and subsequently saw FIFA ban the country since the court had appointed an administrator to oversee the PFF affairs till a resolution is found.

A FIFA spokesperson said that the trophy’s appearance in Pakistan would bring the World Cup closer to football fans in the country. “FIFA regards the FIFA World Cup trophy tour as an excellent initiative as it gives fans around the world a unique opportunity to get up close to the same trophy that will be presented to the winning country of the tournament in July, thus bringing the FIFA World Cup closer to them. We want to revive football in Pakistan and this trophy tour is a step in the right direction to drive interest among football fans in Pakistan,” added the FIFA spokesman.

The World Cup will be played in Russia this summer. A total of 32 teams will contest to become the football’s world champions. Pakistan failed to edge past pre-qualifiers for the event. The World Cup trophy, introduced in 1974, is made of 18 karat gold with a malachite base, it stands 36.8 centimeters high and weighs 6.1 kilograms. The trophy depicts two human figures holding up the earth. The trophy tour kicked off in September 2017 in Russia. During its journey across six continents, the trophy will travel 126,000 kilometres in the months leading up to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The global phase of the trophy tour kicked off in London, United Kingdom on January 22. The trophy will finish its world tour in Tokyo, Japan on April 30. In May 2018 the trophy will return to Russia for a final tour of the host country. The trophy is approximately worth $150,000 according to research in 2017, and was made by Italian company Stabilimento Artistico Bertoni. The FIFA World Cup will run from June 14 to July 15, 2018. Germany will defend their title which they won four years back in Brazil after a 1-0 win over Argentina, thanks to an injury-time winner from attacking midfielder Mario Gotze.

Published in Daily Times, February 4^th 2018.