In a significant move to strengthen football ties and enhance the development of the game, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Football Association, His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, signed a memorandum of understanding with the President of the Pakistan Football Association, Syed Mohsen Gilani.
The signing took place at the Bahrain Football Association headquarters in Riffa, in the presence of the Federation’s Secretary-General, Mr. Rashid Al-Zoabi.
A Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
This cooperation agreement sets a new roadmap for joint collaboration between Bahrain and Pakistan across multiple aspects of football, both technically and administratively.
The agreement emphasizes the exchange of expertise in the field of national teams and age groups through organizing training camps and friendly matches, aimed at nurturing young talent and preparing national teams for various competitions.
The partnership also prioritizes the development of arbitration and the enhancement of administrative and technical standards by organizing training courses and specialized workshops. These initiatives are designed to ensure alignment with international standards in all technical and administrative aspects of the game.
Additionally, the agreement includes provisions for exchanging legal expertise related to regulations governing internal football operations.
Promoting Women’s Football and Futsal
The agreement also focuses on expanding and promoting women’s football through integrated development programs aimed at improving the level of participation and professionalism. Alongside this, the futsal sector will receive focused attention to ensure its growth and development.
His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa highlighted that the agreement underscores Bahrain’s commitment to building strong partnerships with continental federations, emphasizing that collaborative efforts will serve mutual interests and contribute to the overall growth of football in the region.
Tour of the National Sports Performance Center
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, the presidents of both federations toured the National Sports Performance Center at the Bahrain Football Association headquarters. Established with support from the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the center is equipped with advanced technologies and modern facilities to serve players and coaches.
During the tour, Syed Mohsin Gilani praised the qualitative progress achieved by Bahraini football, noting the advanced infrastructure and resources available for player and coach development.
The memorandum marks a landmark step in enhancing football cooperation between Bahrain and Pakistan, laying the foundation for technical, administrative, and grassroots development, as well as promoting women’s football and futsal across the two nations.
Author: Zeeshan Shafi
