KARACHI: England football icon Michael Owen has arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit.
On Wednesday, Owen will meet with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss a strategy for developing football in the nation.
Former Liverpool midfielder will also meet with Special Assistant Usman Dar to discuss GSV’s football reform initiative for Pakistan.
Following that, Owen will be greeted by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and his Islamabad leg will culminate with a reception given by President Arif Alvi.
Owen will then go to Karachi on Thursday to attend a news conference at NED University, where he will officially lay the groundwork. On Thursday, photos of Pakistan’s first-ever Soccer City will be shown.
“I am incredibly happy to be at the head of Pakistan’s greatest football transformation effort and delighted to be tasked with the duty of taking football to a whole new level in Pakistan,” Michael Owen stated.
“There isn’t much to say when England’s pride and joy accepts the top job to restore football in Pakistan,” remarked Zabe Khan, CEO of GSV. Michael has been a very dedicated servant to Liverpool, and his dedication and passion to making Pakistan a successful football nation appears unwavering.”
“It is a wonderful pleasure for Pakistan to welcome Michael Owen to a country that requires a professional orientation with football,” stated Yasir Mahmood, Group Chairman of GSV. All I can say is that exciting football days are coming.
“With the implementation of its strategy for Pakistan, football is here to stay with the GSV master plan.” GSV will create a sustainable grassroots plan, a Talent ID programme for international development in Europe, lucrative professional pathways with international football contracts offering a career-changing lifestyle for the super talented, and a state-of-the-art stadium at NED University beginning with Karachi as the flagship soccer city featuring world-class sports science development.”