Pakistan, the birthplace of Brazuca, the official ball for FIFA world cup

New Delhi: Pakistan has left all internal problems behind to be the birthplace of the Brazuca, the official match ball for the 2014 FIFA world cup. It has been manufactured in Sialkoti origins. Football manufacturing industry reached its prime in 1982 when Tango, a ball also made in Sialkot, was embraced as the official match ball for the FIFA world cup. In the heydays, Pakistan supplied over 70 per cent of the soccer balls imported by the United States. However, by 2007, Pakistan's share declined because of allegations of child labour, infrastructure handicaps, and of all Pakistan's tarnished image.But the Brazuca, produced in Sialkot for Adidas, has brought Pakistan back into the game, thanks to the bold initiatives of Khawaja Akhtar.They have attracted global brands to Sialkot, and have produced a product that will capture the imagination of billions of soccer fans across the globe. If nothing is done, the Brazuca will be known as a ball from Brazil. Conversely, a carefully designed global marketing campaign, which highlights Sialkot's entrepreneurial spirit, will do wonders for changing Pakistan's image. From June 12 to July 13, sports enthusiasts across the globe will be staring at something made in Pakistan. Sialkot is to soccer balls what Detroit is to cars. For decades, soccer balls made in Sialkot have been regarded as the gold standard in quality. Pakistan exported 30 to 42 million balls a year to the rest of the world, generating billions in foreign exchange. Sialkot, while being overshadowed by its large industrial rival Karachi, is perhaps the entrepreneurial capital of Pakistan. Where else would one find a local chamber of commerce and industry self-finance the construction of an international airport to meet the growing export needs of the local exporters? One such local entrepreneur is Khawaja Akhtar of the Forward Sports Private limited. He was previously supplying soccer balls for the German Bundesliga, the French League, and other prestigious tournaments. Khawaja Akhtar, however, was interested in the holy grail of Soccer, the FIFA world cup. Akhtar said that it was when he felt the roar of the crowd at the 2006 World Cup that he dreamt of a goal of his own: to manufacture the ball for the biggest football tournament on the planet.While he dreamt big, he also worked hard to realise his dreams. When Mr. Akhtar realised that Chinese contractors were facing difficulty in delivering the Brazuca, he sprang into action and invited the executives to Sialkot for a visit. The visitors, however, were not impressed by the stone-age production techniques used at Mr. Akhtar's plants. Realising the opportunity, Mr. Akhtar invested in technology and set up the high-tech operations in just 33 days, what would have taken more than six months to establish. The result was sweet success. Mr. Akhtar got the contract to produce 3,000 Brazuca balls for the 2014 FIFA world cup. His company and others will also manufacture millions more for Adidas, who plan to sell more than 13 million balls, a landmark Adidas reached with the sale of the Jabulani, the official match ball for the 2010 FIFA world cup.