Pakistan is a country where sports is considered sacred, yes, by sports we mean cricket. The only game that fits the category according to the common Pakistanis standards. For decades, football has been ignored to such an extent that a talented footballer earning a meager salary eventually loses his life, due to the negligence of the authoritative bodies.
In a recent case, heartbreaking as it is, a young and talented Pakistani footballer named Touseef Ahmed passed away. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), under patron in chief Faisal Saleh Hayat and the rest of his posse are definitely to blame.
Source: Twitter.com
FootballPakistan.com explains what exactly happened that Touseef had to lose his life
On Monday Pakistani footballer Tauseef Ahmed passed away after suffering from fever, high blood sugars& kidney problems. Few thoughts on him
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
The 24 year old had a constant battle with injuries in his promising but short career. He was in Pak U23s as an 18year old with high praise pic.twitter.com/6A7Ha3KMvT
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Tauseef had come through local Faisalabad clubs before getting picked by WAPDA. He had impressed Graham Roberts and Tariq Lufti in Pak U23s.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Tauseef’s first major injury came against Palestine in 2011 when he suffered a ligament injury and ruled him out for a very long time.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Tauseef injured on national duty but with no insurance for players the PFF only offered Rs 40-50k for treatment costing Rs600k.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
His knee problem didn’t completely go away and troubled him constantly,he would ultimately turn to homeopathic medicine to help relief pain.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
The player waited and waited for help but it never came, he however managed to get operation done on his own and returned after 2years out.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
His knee problem didn’t completely go away and troubled him constantly,he would ultimately turn to homeopathic medicine to help relief pain.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
As per people close to him the homeopathic medicine had serious side-effects which damaged his kidneys and reason behind high blood sugars.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
It is disgraceful that the Pakistan Football Federation couldn’t pay Rs600k for a player’s treatment who was injured playing for Pakistan.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Its even worse that players aren’t insured when they are playing for the national team in friendly matches who are then ignored when injured
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
What makes it even worse is that PFF isn’t short of funds when it comes to splashing on it’s president or his associates in PFF Congress.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
As of 2011-12 when Tauseef was injured, footballers are lowest earners within PFF pay structure. Female players earn half of male players.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
The PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat and congress members fly First Class and stay in 5 Star Hotels costing thousands of dollars every year.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
But paying $6,000 for a player’s knee operation was just too much when a First Class flight for PFF chief costs more than that.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
There has never been a great deal of focus on player care in Pakistani football and it is evident at the very top.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Players often play 3 matches a week at substandard grounds and playing surfaces, then we wonder why so many injuries and no treatments.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
If the PFF had fulfilled its duty by helping Tauseef receive proper medical treatment first time maybe just maybe he would have recovered!
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Maybe a successful knee operation the first time would have prevented him from going to hakeems which destroyed his organs at the age of 24.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Lack of sports medicine expertise is already an issues in Pakistan as players struggle with injuries and give up on sport.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Here’s to hoping as our sports leagues come up after PSL inspiration, sports medicine is an area that people take to.
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) March 2, 2017
Touseef was a talented footballer, who played as a midfielder for Pakistan’s U18 and U23. If this is how we treat the best amongst us, imagine what happens to the low-level departmental players? Prior to Touseef’s demise, another footballer named Ali Sher had overdosed on the same homeopathic’s medicine.
If the PFF cannot provide footballers with basic health and medical facilities (necessities), then what can we expect in terms of footballing glory? Higher authorities need to take responsibility and investigate Touseef’s case, as to why he wasn’t provided with the funds to treat his injury.
