Hope ‘more kids get into football’ in Pakistan, says Portugal’s Boa Morte

DUBAI: It’s a big break for Pakistan as it hosts the ‘Ronaldinho and Friends Club’ – including eight international football players – to play two matches in Karachi and Lahore.

Luis Boa Morte Pereira, one of the footballers, arrived at Dubai Airport late Friday night. He is known for his versatility in the international football scene for playing as a central midfielder, winger, and forward.

Boa Morte, who started his career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, received his first gig in 1997 when he joined Arsenal. He was selected for the 2004 Olympics and 2006 FIFA World Cup and has earned 28 caps for Portugal.

Geo.tv caught up with the player to see what he has to say about the upcoming game and his journey to Pakistan.

“I want to give something positive to the kids, give [them] a chance to try and understand the game,” Boa Morte told Geo.tv in an exclusive interview before taking off for Karachi.

The player believes that introducing professional football in the country is “a process that takes time”, which is why to succeed, “things [need to be] well-structured from the bottom all the way to top”.

Asked what he thinks of football in Pakistan at present, Boa Morte explained that he understands it’s “something different as football is not the number one sport in Pakistan”.

“We always try to change things,” Boa Morte mentioned with a chuckle, before adding that he only wants to give Pakistani kids a chance to explore and understand football as an alternative sport but not by undermining cricket – the ultimate love.

However, the footballer deemed it to be a process that “takes a few years”. That’s why the work at grassroots needs to be commenced “this season and next season, and you can be thinking of making top 20 or something”.

“You can always try,” he added as an afterthought.

Nevertheless, Boa Morte's main goal is for everyone to enjoy. “I hope they enjoy and we enjoy as well as it is all about enjoyment,” he smiled.

If “everyone [goes] home happy”, then it’s going to be a success.

And so we hope!