Over 42 million soccer balls amounting to Rs 17,473 million has been exported from Sialkot so far on the eve of FIFA Football World Cup 2014 to be played in Brazil. Sources in Sialkot Dry Port told Business Recorder on Monday that adequate arrangements have been made for prompt clearance of exportable consignments at dry port to facilitate business community and for timely delivery.
Sialkot made soccer ball "Brazuca" will be used in upcoming FIFA Football World Cup matches after the gape of 32 years which an honour for Pakistan. The ball was produced by Forward Sports Sialkot for Adidas. The name Brazuca is an informal local term which means "Brazilian" or to describe the Brazilian way of life. Brazuca is a breakthrough innovation featuring a revolutionary 6 panel design created for every player on the field, the ball features six identical panels alongside a unique surface that will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the field.
The success story of Sialkot based industries is based on the unmatched skill and craftsmanship of local workers. In 1980s Sialkot gained international celebrity status when it produced the "Tango Ball" used in FIFA Football World cup in 1982 which led further growth of soccer ball industry. By virtue of this all major international brands like Adidas, Nike, Puma, Select, Litto, Umbro, Mitre, Micassa, Diadora, Wilsoms and Decathion are sourcing their supply of footballs from this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry of the country.
Sialkot is the only city of Pakistan where 99 percent products are exported to various countries of the world. Sialkot based small and medium industries are earning foreign exchange of over US $1.6 billion annually through exports and strengthening the national economy.
Under the directives of federal government a project of "Sports Industries Development Centre" (SIDC) has been initiated costing more than Rs 435.637 million in Sialkot for modernise soccer ball industry. The SICD is fully equipped with latest machinery which had already started its trail production. The prime objective of setting up of SIDC was to help sports goods sector to adopt modern technology of mechanised "Thermo Lamination Balls" by providing the common facilities, technical advisory services, molding machinery services and training. The SIDC will help the businessmen and manufacturers engaged with soccer ball industry to modernise the industry and as well as supportive in resolving problems being confronted by the industry especially technology of mechanised ball that was threatening the hand-stitched soccer ball.
The facilities like proto type balls for the industry, training of skilled workers for the industries in mold, rubber technologies, mechanised thermo laminated balls, provision of manufacturing facilities for SMEs to secure their export orders for mechanised thermo laminated balls, help develop machinery locally through reverse engineering and providing assistance in setting up mechanised thermo laminated balls production in individual industrial units engaged with sports goods sector of Sialkot would be available in SIDC.
In addition, the machinery set up is fully capable of producing and testing thermo laminated balls meeting the standards of FIFA, rubber mixing equipments, bladder manufacturing equipments, yarn winding and vulcanisation, panel cuttings/ print/ lamination and laboratory with latest machinery were available in SIDC.
The project would enable sports goods sector to adopt new technology of mechanised thermo laminated balls by providing training, common facilities, technical advisory services along with mold machinery services. Besides, the centre would also assist the industry to cope with challenges of product development and would enhance the capacity and competitiveness of Sialkot football industry in the field of mechanised soccer balls as well as transfer of technology for manufacturing of 3500 thermo laminated balls (soccer ball), volley balls and basketballs per 8 hours shift to Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC).
The project will facilitate in sustaining Pakistan's position in international market of inflatable balls in general and soccer balls in particular through development of prototype balls for industry, training of skilled workers in mold, rubber technologies, mechanised thermo laminated balls, provision of manufacturing facilities for SMEs, development of quality vulcanization and pasting molds, development of imported machinery locally through reverse engineering and provision of assistance in setting up mechanised ball production line individual industrial units sources added.
It may be mentioned that the Federal government has taken this drastic step to address the problems of soccer ball industry of Sialkot besides its modernization of sports goods sector. The sports goods industry was confronting with a serious threat in the form of thermo molded ball that uses medium end technology to produce a ball having most of characteristics of hand stitched ball. Sialkot is catering 85 percent of the total world demand of hand stitched inflatable balls that means 60 million balls annually.
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