The FIFA Goal Project II in Karachi is a long-lost dream. When will it turn into reality nothing can be said. Since a decade, the Karachi project has been facing untoward obstacles and delay to get accomplished.
It was on 9 June 1999 during Los Angles FIFA Congress when the football ruling body announced to build Football Houses in every financially-underprivileged association under the Goal Program. In Pakistan Karachi city was actually picked out at first as the venue of Goal Project (also supposed to become the headquarter of Football Houses in the country) on 4 March 2002 in FIFA Goal Bureau meeting but because of the “unavailability of suitable land” at that time the Project was mischievously given to Lahore.
After staunch criticism the PFF announced to build next Goal Project in Karachi and picked out a land at Trans Lyari Park, Old Golimar, Manghopir Road as their “first choice”. But subsequent encroachment in the area and sub-judice status of the Trans Lyari Park the PFF compelled to drop the venue and selected a 10-acer land in Hawkesbay’s Scheme 42, Plot No 13 A-1 under the Lyari Development Authority (LDA).
A serious deadlock also emerged in those days between Sindh Football Association and the PFF because of power of attorney, as the later demanded to transfer the land in their name according to FIFA guidelines. It took pain-staking time to fulfill the demand but on January 6, 2009 finally the plot was transferred in the name of the PFF by the LDA.
In April 2010, the PFF authorities in a press briefing together with AFC vice President Manilal Fernando and FIFA Development Officer Mohsen Gillani, approved Atif Nazar Associates and Nawab Brothers as Consultant and Contractor respectively for the Karachi Project, with the aim “to change the destiny of the emerging talent” of the city. It was also told the project will be completed in ten months, costing US$ 600,000 in which the FIFA would contribute with US$ 400,000 while the rest, PFF had to arrange by itself.
The Goal Project II means to have a football stadium, 96-players accommodation facility, football academy, coach rooms, gymnasium, swimming pool, auditorium and an administration block.
The irony is, the Goal Project which had to be completed in ten month, nothing has been done in terms of planning and construction after passing almost one and half year of project’ approval. The land is still a jungle of bushes and not even the demarcation of the area has been done so far neither by consultant nor contractor.
Interestingly, the same contractor was also awarded the Goal Project in Peshawar, which is surprising why the Karachi-based firm was selected instead of a local one’ from (then) NWFP. However, regarding delay in construction of Karachi Goal Project the PFF secretary Col. Ahmed Yaar Lodhi briefs “We found the quality of Nawab Brothers very poor while the firm was constructing Peshawar Project, therefore we did not sign agreement with them and allow working on Karachi Project.” The secretary further tells “We have recently retendered the Karachi Project retaining the same consultant Atif Nazar Associates who have received fresh bids from various contractors and the construction will start next month.”
It is hard to understand a few months ago the PFF officials were used to claim that the construction of Karachi Goal Project was just in the offing and now after passing the deadline of construction they reveal that they had actually disqualified the contractor and fresh bids are being sought. When were the Nawab Brothers disqualified and new tenders called, the PFF didn’t come up publicly or issue any press release.
The reality is more distressing. An important FIFA Development officer while visiting the site of Karachi Goal Project in 2009 showed his dissatisfaction over the location and it is widely believed in football circle that the donor body now has some reservations over the location of venue. That’s why the construction hasn’t started yet.
When Col Lodhi was reminded about this, he replied “That’s not true, the main authority is Manilal Fernando. Second all the paperwork has been done; the Sindh Government has transferred the land in the name of PFF, besides the location is very ideal as it is just 7 km away from Peoples Sports Complex and Lyari”.
When asked about the deadline he told in the next year it is likely to be ready. The secretary further claimed in an exclusive telephonic conversation “Not one, Karachi will have two Goal Projects very soon.” Now why did he needlessly hint about second Goal Project, is an anybody’ guess.
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