In an industry first and a major move for football in Pakistan, Pakistan’s premier football club Karachi United Football Club and the United Kingdom’s prestigious Swindon Town FC have entered into an exciting partnership, facilitated by Prospect Pakistan, a pioneering sports platform dedicated to creating global partnerships for Pakistan’s sporting ecosystem. The MOU for this collaboration was signed in the UK at the Royal Agricultural University, in the presence of Riz Rehman, Player Inclusion Executive at The Professional Footballers’ Association [PFA], where a debut delegation of Karachi United’s coaches and players, were also present. Mr Sarfraz Khan, First Secretary at the Pakistan High Commission to the UK also attended and spoke at the MOU signing.
Indeed, this partnership marks a significant milestone for football in Pakistan, as a strong step for the development of football in the country. This also secures greater footballing ties between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
The partnership between Karachi United and Swindon Town FC aims to foster the exchange of best practices, open new player pathways, and provide advanced training for coaches at Karachi United. This initiative is set to elevate the level of football in Pakistan by integrating international standards and expertise into local practices, one step at a time.
“We are excited to begin working with Karachi United, a club who has similar values to our Academy and shared enthusiasm for youth development. The partnership will see us share football programme ideas, coach development strategies and insights in to how our environment caters to the needs of individuals through a variety of disciplines including S&C, Medical, Player Care, Education and Performance Psychology. It has been special to welcome KU to the UK, and even more so to our Academy home. As much as we hope it has brought new experiences for KU Youth, it has certainly brought a different experience for our boys through playing fixtures and building new relationships. .” Alex Pike, Academy Manager, Swindon Town FC.
Expressing enthusiasm about the partnership, the Karachi United ownership group of Taha Alizai, Imran Ali along with Ali Ata, added, “We are excited about this collaboration as it allows us to further our goals for Football Excellence in Pakistan, allows opportunities for our youth to experience global football all the while helping us enhance our coaching capabilities to help build stronger skills set for the beautiful game at the grass roots.”
Founder and CEO of Prospect, Rizwan Raees Khan further added, “Pakistan has incredible athletes lacking global and local opportunities. Our partnership between Swindon Town FC and Karachi United aims to change that. We’re committed to fostering excellence and creating opportunities for Pakistani athletes and look forward to replicating this success in other sports.”
Key components of this partnership include:
Coaching Development: Swindon Town FC will provide expert coaching workshops and training programs for Karachi United coaches, focusing on modern techniques and methodologies to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Player Pathways: Karachi United players will gain opportunities for exposure and development through exchange programs, scouting, and participation in training camps at Swindon Town FC, allowing them to experience competitive football environments abroad. This is a long terms (5-10 year) target of developing Pakistani talent to come and possibly succeed in the UK and globally.
Best Practices Exchange: Both clubs will engage in regular exchanges to share insights on club management, player development, and community engagement, aiming to build a sustainable and progressive football ecosystem in Pakistan.
Cultural and Sports Diplomacy: This partnership will also contribute to strengthening cultural and sports ties between the UK and Pakistan, promoting mutual understanding and collaboration through the universal language of football.
