October 16, 2017
The Embassy of Pakistan in Brussels organized a friendly football match between Pakistan Greens and Pakistan Whites at the Schaerbeek football stadium Brussels.
The match was part of the celebration of Pakistan’s 70th independence anniversary in Europe.
The Pakistan Whites won the match by 4-0. Two Belgian teams from Brussels participated in the friendly match. The Renaissance Schaerbeek teams led by Captain Channouf Safouane with Sajjad Memon as the coach played as Pakistan Whites, while Genappe team captained by Antony Guiot and Frederic Vanderkerken as its coach played as Pakistan Greens. It was for the first time that the Belgian teams played a friendly football match for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg Mrs Naghmana Hashmi who was the chief guest of the match said that the aim of organizing the match was to bring the Pakistani and Belgian communities closer.
“Pakistan produces the world’s best football which is evident from the fact that made-in-Pakistan footballs are used as the official football in the FIFA world cup tournaments,” she said.
Ambassador Hashmi said that in addition to providing chances for healthy activities, such events have a huge potential of introducing and promoting Pakistani footballs and sportswear in Belgium.
She thanked the Renaissance Club Schaerbeek for providing the stadium for hosting the match. The Belgian and diplomatic community was also invited to the match, including officials from Belgian Foreign Office, European External Action Service and journalists.
Earlier, junior teams of Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Greens also played a match. Popular national songs such were also sung on the occasion by young Pakistani-origin students Shehbaz Ghani and Adil Sardar Ghani.
The match was sponsored by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, manufacturers of sports clothing in Sialkot Pakistan, Well Trust, and manufacturers of footballs in Pakistan, Wembley Sports.
The match was dedicated to a Belgian charity, Clinclowns, that works for sick children.
The event was well received by the audience.