Former England and Liverpool star Michael Owen has partnered with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Kamyab Jawan program to help groom football talent in Pakistan.
Owen announced on Sunday that he has struck a special strategic partnership with the Prime Minister of Pakistan to help bring the Pakistani youth from a “local to a global” level.
Owen signed the partnership through a private venture Global Soccer Ventures. The partnership will offer the talented youth in Pakistan the opportunity to play football in world-class stadiums in the United Kingdom, Global Soccer Ventures said in a press release issued on Sunday.
The company added that it has been appointed to bring to life Prime Minister Imran’s vision of “mobilizing the youth into football with an international professional football gateway”.
Football talent hunt program
As part of plan, a UEFA-licensed coaching team from Europe together with the local federation will help organize a nationwide grassroots talent hunt program in Pakistan. The talent hunt program is scheduled to start from Jan. 8, 2022, in Islamabad, the press release added.
The talent hunt will also be held in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sialkot, and Quetta, for youth aged between 18 and 28 years of age. The participants will be evaluated based on their “technical, tactical, physical and mental abilities”.
Imran Khan and the former English striker will promote the talent hunt program to bring to the fore “[a] new crop of players”.
Establishment of soccer city in Pakistan
The GSV press release also revealed the plans to unveil not only a stadium but a soccer city in Pakistan.
“The Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive will mobilize Pakistan’s youth into becoming world-class football players,” the statement quoted Prime Minister Imran as saying. “I have given a green light to this brand new state-of-the-art stadium investment brought by GSV that is a visionary and historic milestone that will ultimately create a better future for the youth of Pakistan in the world’s most popular sport — football.”
Owen was also excited about the initiative and hinted at unveiling his plans in Pakistan in January 2022, which will help fans visit stadiums and benefit from inter-city football opportunities.
“The future of football in Pakistan is enormous and I am starting a long journey to create a new bridge between the UK and Pakistan for the next crop of national superstars. Kamyab Jawaan Kamyab Pakistan is our final goal,” he added.