Former English footballer Michael Owen has been appointed as the ambassador of the newly announced franchised-based Pakistan Football League, Geo reports.
The former footballer also shared a message on Twitter for Pakistani fans.
“Salam Pakistan! I’m absolutely delighted to announce that I’m the new Pakistan Football League (The PFL) Ambassador and I hope to be visiting Pakistan soon! Hope you all are ready! Football hoga!” he wrote.
Soon after the announcement, the former Liverpool legend spoke exclusively to Geo News in which he shared his thoughts on interest for football in Pakistan and if the football World Cup was held every two years.
The 41-year-old legend stated that franchise-based football league is a step in the right direction for development of football in the country.
“It’s very exciting that professional football is about to be launched in Pakistan. A country that has 220 million people has a lot to offer for a successful league and a successful national team in the future.
“Of course, those blocks have got to be built slowly and sustainably. But I do think that it was about time that Pakistan had its own league football. Obviously, the league needs to be run in the right way for improvement, to bring excitement, and to be sustainable as well,” he said.
When asked what steps Pakistan needs to take to improve football standards, the former World Cupper highlighted that the country must have a league, professional players, and something that the fans are going to get behind.
“And, once you have that, then you can start looking at finer details, you can start looking at academies. And of course, that the more you play, the better you get. The higher the standard you get to, the more you try to compete with the next standard,” he said.
