PFF was stopped from training at Punjab Stadium due to the ongoing Youth Festival.  -File photo by AFP

LAHORE: The Sports Board Punjab (SBP) has barred the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) from holding its national training camps both for men and women footballers at the Punjab Stadium.

The stadium is meant for two sports — athletics and football — but it is not being used by the national footballers, who are now forced to attend the camps at the Model Town Ground, which lack proper facilities.

According to the details, administrator of the Punjab Stadium while turning down PFF’s request cited the reason that the venue is not available due to the ongoing Youth Festival. However, it is interesting to note that no competition of the Youth Festival is underway at the Punjab Stadium as currently it is in progress at the village level.

It is also worth mentioning that the PFF is spending extra money on providing both men and women footballers transport to reach the Model Town Ground, which is almost five kilometres away from the FIFA House where the players have accommodation.

The Punjab Stadium, however, is situated in front of the FIFA House.

The national men’s camp was set up since the PFF is expecting a positive reply from countries like Afghanistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka in response to its invitation to them to play matches in Pakistan.

Similarly, women footballers will compete in the South Asian Football Championship scheduled to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from mid September.