ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has exported around 3.5 million footballs worth $5.2 million for the ongoing FIFA World Cup, chairman Pakistan Sports Manufacturers and Exporters Association Zia-ur-Rehman said.
Talking to APP on phone he said that Pakistani balls were being used for only training and promotional purposes and not for the playing purpose.
The penetration of machine-made footballs in the international market has caused a serious dent to Pakistan’s hand-made stitched soccer industry as the country’s manufacturers grabbed only 30 per cent of the total orders floated globally for the World Cup.
Only a few years ago around 70 per cent of world soccer balls were prepared in Sialkot and the country on average was exporting 40 million balls worth $210 million produced annually by some 60,000 highly skilled labourers.
Sialkot gained international celebrity status when it produced the “Tango” ball for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, kicking off a lucrative industry. But Adidas, the company that got the responsibility of providing soccer for the 2010 World Cup, has chosen China for producing the thermally bonded balls for the mega event.
“In the past we have been contributing millions of dollars to the national kitty by exporting footballs but our share in the international market has registered a significant decline, mainly due to the use of machine-made balls for the main events,” Zia said.
New players in the international market, particularly China, India, Japan and Thailand have posed a real challenge to Pakistan football industry. “Lack of modern technology is the main factor in tilting the balance against the local industry,” Zia asserted.
“No doubt, the machine-made footballs have affected our businesses, but we are in process of buying latest machinery and soon the best world teams will again be using our soccer,” Zia added
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