CFL ropes in leading players for platinum category

KARACHI: The organisers of the Classic Football League (CFL) on Thursday said that they had got NOCs of the leading players of the country who will be put in platinum category of the event which is expected to be held at Karachi in August.

“This category comprises the players who have represented Pakistan at the international level,” the organisers said in a press release. “This franchise model league will see young players from all over the country representing their teams which will be named after the prominent regions,” the organisers said.

Chairman CFL Haider Ali Daud Khan has said that CFL would cater to the needs of a modern football league. “The CFL aims at the promotion of football at the grassroots level and the development of players in Pakistan. At the same time it provides a perfect branding opportunity to its corporate stakeholders,” Haider said.

He said CFL would be a continuous engagement and would strengthen football clubs. CFL Director Shahid Khokhar said: “Players participating in CFL are classified into platinum, diamond, gold and emerging categories. Platinum category will carry only those players who have represented Pakistan. They will be included in the pool directly. The players for the rest of the categories will be chosen through a well-propagated and transparent selection process to be carried out nationwide.”

The move of holding CFL elated Pakistan’s experienced defender Muhammad Ahmed. “I am very happy to learn that a franchise-based football league is being launched in Pakistan. It will definitely give heroes to the country. It will also raise the confidence of the corporate sector in the sport,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed has experience of playing in Bahrain’s second-tier league. Pakistan’s promising striker Mansoor Khan said that every footballer was excited. “This is big news for all the players and we are eagerly looking forward to take part in this event,” he added.