The Pakistan Soccer League (PFL) has introduced a money prize of PKR 1 million and a key place inside the league for footballer Muhammad Riaz, whose struggles gained consideration after he was pressured to promote sweets following the disbandment of his departmental crew.
Riaz, a former Ok-Electrical participant, discovered himself jobless after his membership was dissolved because of the controversial ban on departmental sports activities imposed by the earlier authorities. With no monetary help, the 29-year-old turned to promoting jalebis in his hometown, Hangu, to make ends meet.
His plight got here to mild after a video of him surfaced on-line, resulting in an invite to the Prime Minister Home.
Following the viral video, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Riaz to the Prime Minister’s Home for a gathering. In the course of the assembly, the PM awarded him a cheque of PKR 2.5 million and introduced a job for the footballer.
In the meantime, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur additionally supplied him with PKR 1 million in monetary help.
PFL Chairman Farhan Junejo, acknowledging Riaz’s hardships, not solely introduced the PKR 1 million prize but in addition assured him a key position within the PFL, a league decided to revive soccer in Pakistan.
“Muhammad Riaz is a primary instance of the various proficient footballers in Pakistan who’ve been pressured to go away the game on account of an absence of platforms and monetary help,” Junejo mentioned. “We’re dedicated to making sure that such expertise doesn’t go unnoticed. Riaz is not going to solely be financially supported however may even play an energetic position within the PFL’s efforts to develop the sport in Pakistan.”
The PFL additionally pledged to offer worldwide coaching alternatives to Riaz and different aspiring footballers, making certain that Pakistan’s footballing expertise will get the popularity and help it deserves.
Riaz, an Asian Video games hero, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m grateful to PFL for giving me the chance to return to soccer. I’ll work with PFL to make sure no different participant is uncared for.”
His story has make clear the struggles confronted by Pakistani athletes, with many social media customers declaring that such expertise can be extremely valued and well-compensated in different international locations.
Regardless of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives to revive departmental sports activities, the ban imposed through the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) authorities continues to have an effect on numerous athletes, leaving them with out monetary safety or profession stability.