RAU pleased to host football partnership with Pakistan’s Karachi United

23 July 2024

Players from Pakistan’s Karachi United Football Club could soon be playing and training alongside Swindon Town Football Club teams at the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).

A delegation of Karachi United’s coaches and players recently visited the RAU to train with Swindon Town’s Academy teams, which already use the RAU facilities, and to officially launch a new partnership between the two clubs.

RAU Chief Operating Office Graham Pollard said: “As a university we are strong believers in the power of partnership - it has always been core to who we are at the RAU from when we were first founded in 1845 to the current day where we have well established partnerships globally, in China, the UAE, and Uzbekistan.

“We are also strong believers in the power of sport in bringing communities together, supporting individuals from all different backgrounds towards a common purpose, sense of achievement, and, most of all, enjoyment.

“Over the last year, our partnership with Swindon Town Academy has helped to create a link between those participating in university sport and the elite academy programme, as well as local grassroots football with Stratton Youth – and the academy staff at Swindon Town have been amazing in helping to nurture those relationships.

“It has been great to see those principles further applied globally in welcoming Karachi United to the RAU, an initiative that I’m sure will have far reaching benefits and will have been a great experience for all those involved, both in the UK and in Pakistan.”

The collaboration was masterminded by Rizwan Raess Khan, Player Inclusion Executive at the Professional Footballers’ Association, and Founder and CEO of Prospect Pakistan, who said: “Pakistan has incredible athletes but they lack global and local opportunities. This partnership aims to change that while also elevating the level of football in Pakistan and securing greater footballing ties between the United Kingdom and Pakistan.

“This union will enable the exchange of best practices, open new player pathways, and provide advanced training for coaches at Karachi United. It marks a significant milestone for football in Pakistan and it has been fantastic for our players and coaches to visit and to use the excellent facilities at the RAU.”

Swindon Town Academy has been using the RAU’s facilities for training and home matches for the last year and has just entered into the second year of the ongoing agreement for the RAU to be the “home ground” of Swindon Town Academy.

Academy Manager Alex Pike added: “Karachi United has similar values to us and a shared enthusiasm for youth development. We are delighted to be working with them and it has been great to be able to host KU players and coaches at our Academy home here at the RAU.”