Manizeh Zainli
NationalityPakistani
Occupation(s)Secretary General, Pakistan Football Federation

Manizeh Zainli is Pakistan's first female secretary general of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).[1] She was nominated for the post in February 2020 and steps down end of December 2020.[2] She is also the first female official of any football federation in South Asian countries.

Career

Zainli started her career as a discussion teacher in 2005. She then went on to serve as a head of administration at Links Schooling System in 2016. She became a principal at Westminster David Game College, Karachi in 2018.

She played football for two years Diya Women Football Club in Karachi.[3]

Her road to becoming the first female secretary general of PFF started when she was serving as the outreach council an administrator at Millennium Universal College. She was selected after regular interviews conducted by a committee set up by FIFA in February 2020 and became the first female Secretary General of PFF.[4] Munizeh also has 15 years of experience in top management.[5]

Manizeh Zainli has become one of the highest paid football official in the history of Pakistani football.[6][7] Manizeh was recognized by ASEAN football federation for being among the 5 women secretary generals in Asia.[8][9] Manizeh was represented as the only female official in South Asian Football conference.

Criticism

After her appointment, there was a lot of criticism on gender lines, with Manizeh being criticized for no having any background in football. Manizeh Zainli responded to the criticism, saying it does not deter her from her role responsibilities, and that the secretary general is an administrative position, which doesn't require a football background.[10]

During an interview with a Pakistani sport's channel, she responded to the commentators "I don’t want to respond to misogynists comments." She further said "I would let my work speak for itself and these things don’t bother me at all. I am here in an administrative position, although I have played some football but that is not required for my job neither do I need a coaching license as I am not a player or a coach. I am in administration so people should see my administrative work and background."[10]

According to sources, the PFF Normalization Committee wanted to remove Manizeh from her post citing financial irregularities.[11] These allegations were also made by Manizeh against the normalization committee. Manizeh Zainli got a stay order from a civil court in Lahore, preventing the PFF Normalization Committee from removing her[12] from her post after differences developed between her and PFF.[13] Manizeh zainli was again reinstated on 22 December 2020 by the new NC chair Mr Muneer Sadhana stating ‘The termination illegal’ In return Manizeh accepted to withdraw the court cases against the PFF and the ex NC Chair. www.dawn.com/news/amp/1597270

Future plans

Manizeh says she plans to set-up a football league for women, saying there's a lot of talent in men and women for football and that needs training and encouragement to shine. She is hoping to get a grant of 500,000 from FIFA to get started on women's football.

She has plans to help the football players in Pakistan affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. The PFF is starting a player relief fund. FIFA has decided to give $1.5 million to each member country that will help with the relief fund for Pakistani Players.[10][14]

In an interview, PFF's General Secretary Manizeh Zainli said she is looking forward to providing as many opportunities as she can to the talent of Gilgit-Baltistan in the limited time-period she has. Subsequently, there have been training sessions conducted for the newly emerging girls football team in Gilgit-Baltistan territory[15] led by PFF's National Technical Director Daniel Limones.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ FIFA.com. "Member Association - Pakistan - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "PFF's first female secretary-general steps down as her contract expires". The News International. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Wasim, Umaid (4 March 2020). "'Trained to be stronger', Manizeh looks to put PFF back on track". Dawn. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ↑ Khilari. "PFF normalisation committee appoints first female general secretary; announces provincial bodies - Khilari". www.khilari.com.pk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "PFF NC names Zainli its general secretary". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  6. ↑ Editorial Staff (10 May 2020). "Manizeh highest paid football official in Pakistan ever [The News]". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Manizeh highest paid football official in Pakistan ever". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  8. ↑ AFF, Editor (7 March 2020). "The rise and rise of women's football in Asia". AFF - The Official Website Of The Asean Football Federation. Retrieved 17 November 2020. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  9. ↑ Sports247 (7 March 2020). "The rise and rise of women's football in Asia". Sports247. Retrieved 17 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 3 "Bossing the men's game: A chat with Pakistan football's first female admin". www.geosuper.tv. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  11. ↑ Wasim, Umaid (13 October 2020). "PFF Normalisation Committee taken to court by general secretary Manizeh". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Abbas, Tauqeer (14 October 2020). "Removal of PFF secretary: Lahore civil judge issues stay order | Pakistan Shia News Agency". Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Removal of PFF secretary: Lahore civil judge issues stay order | SAMAA". Samaa TV. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Manizeh Zainli vows to help footballers affected by lockdown". BOL News. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  15. ↑ isbpostadmin (8 September 2020). "PFF holds coaching clinic for females in Gilgit-Baltistan". Islamabad Post. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  16. ↑ admin (8 September 2020). "PFF holds teaching clinic for females in Gilgit-Baltistan". Viral News Network -VNN. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  17. ↑ "PFF holds coaching clinic for females in Gilgit-Baltistan". 8 September 2020.
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