Brazil’s World Cup winning footballer Ricardo Kaka, who is currently in Pakistan for an exhibition tour, has admitted that one-off tours by global stars like himself would create a temporary buzz but won’t create a sustainable football culture where the Beautiful Game could grow.
Kaka, who along with Luis Figo, Nicolas Anelka and Carles Puyol, landed in Karachi on Saturday, identified the only two ways through which football can be developed in Pakistan.
The former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder said that in order for football in Pakistan to thrive, more football academies as well as a cultural shift would be needed.
Read more: Figo advises PFF to start football education at school level
“We are here to promote football in Pakistan but I do not think that these things will help until you have a sustainable base,” Kaka told Geo News. “We can come here, do coaching and conduct two to three-day workshops but sustainability comes from academies where you develop young players.”
“In Brazil, football is part of the culture. The first thing we gift to a kid is a football. Here probably it is the cricket ball. You have to understand that.”
Kaka said that there must be footballing talent in a country the size of Pakistan but stressed that the nurturing of the talent is of the utmost importance.
“There are a lot of people here so surely there will be talent but it all depends on how you develop and invested in these people,” he said.
Ali finishes 42-kilometre marathon in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 29 seconds
The Lions decision to bowl first bears fruit as Lankan bowlers bundle out Pakistan on modest total
Last time India were blanked at home was in 2000 in two-match series against South Africa
Wicket-keeper batter says he will support Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi as much as possible
Men in Green are scheduled to play three-match ODI series followed by three T20Is against Kangaroos
Pakistan and Australia scheduled to play three-match ODI series from November 4 to 10
