Global LFC Family: Pakistan

Name: Bissmah Mehmud
Age: 24
City / country: Islamabad, Pakistan
Job: Creative manager at an advertising agency

Why did you pick Liverpool as your team?

For a lot of people, their love for Liverpool is inherited; their father, their older brother, an uncle or an aunt were supporting Liverpool or some influential figure in their life who encouraged them to support the Reds from an early age. I grew up in a cricket revering household with both parents and both brothers being staunch supporters of cricket. For me it was an acquired love rather than an inherited love. I was working for the local Liverpool supporters' club in Pakistan as a graphics designer. Within two months of joining, the friends I made, the people I worked with - their passion for LFC was contagious. Their love for the club was unconditional even though the team wasn't doing that well in those days. I knew then that this was the best club in the world and that it had the best fans in the world. Supporting this club teaches you what unconditional love, emotional strength and resilience really are all about and it made me a better person. That's why and how I started supporting the team and since then, being a Liverpool fan is a part of my identity.

What's your earliest LFC memory?

My earliest memory would be from one of the first games I watched. The team we were playing against had taken the lead and I saw that even though we had just conceded, our fans were still singing their hearts out and cheering for the club. I was just beginning to wonder why the fans were singing instead of getting upset, when within five minutes, we equalised. That moment for me was magic.

Who was your first LFC hero and why?

Steven Gerrard. Not just for the player that he is, but also because of his loyalty to the club and the manner in which he can lift the entire team all by himself.

What is your favourite LFC memory?

Steven Gerrard's hat-trick against Everton.

Who has been your favourite Liverpool manager and why?

Although I wasn't following Liverpool at that time, I'd say Bob Paisley. He is undoubtedly the greatest manager to date, not only of Liverpool, but in the entire history of football. I thoroughly admire Brendan Rodgers too since he has lead Liverpool back to happy times after a long time.

What has been your lowest point supporting Liverpool?

There hasn't been one particular 'lowest point' for me since I started supporting Liverpool. Naturally, after we lose any game, I feel pretty low but I tell myself to look ahead to the next game. I do know, however, what the lowest point will be in future - it will not be after a loss in a game, it will be the loss I feel once Steven Gerrard retires.

Have you ever been to Anfield?

Sadly, no. I will go the very first chance I get. It would probably be as soon as I save up enough to go there because that would make it even more special for me.

Where were you while we were in Istanbul?

One of my greatest regrets in life is to have missed watching that final live. Ever since I started supporting Liverpool, however, I must have watched that match again about 50 times. It's something you read about in books or see in movies. I was 13 years old at that time and probably wouldn't have been allowed to stay up late to watch it anyway considering no-one in my cricket-loving household watches football.

Do Liverpool have a passionate fan base where you're from?

Liverpool has an ever increasing fan base in Pakistan. When I started working for Pak Reds - the now official Liverpool supporters' club in Pakistan - almost three years back, I was amazed to think that a mere sport could arouse such passion in people. Since then I realised how wrong I was and how this was not just a 'mere sport'. The fans in Pakistan are spread out all over the country. There are Liverpool fans in each of the four provinces of Pakistan. We have established branches of Pak Reds which bring together fans in the North (Islamabad), fans in the central region (Lahore) and fans in the South (Karachi). We have fans that regularly travel to Anfield, we have fans that followed the team on their tour to Thailand in 2013 and most importantly, we have fans that travel from rural and far-flung areas of Pakistan to the main branches to watch games together at match screenings.

Which team are considered Liverpool's biggest rivals in your country?

Manchester United and Everton. At each of these games we have a huge turn-out at screenings, which overshadow screenings of cricket matches even and that is amazing considering how widely cricket is followed in Pakistan.

Where do you go online to follow news about LFC?

The LFC website primarily and I've set my phone browser's homepage to that so I never miss out any news. The @PakistanLFC account on Twitter is great since they provide us with localised content, especially the local time of fixtures and what local channel they'll be shown on, which is a huge help. The Pak Reds Facebook page is also a good source since they keep us posted with news from the club as well as news about what Liverpool fans in Pakistan are up to.

Do you also support a local team?

Not really.

Who is your favourite current player and why?

It would definitely be Luis Suarez without a doubt. He just never gives up and it is a joy not just for a Liverpool fan but any football fan to watch him play (as long as he's not playing against their team).  You can see it every time he walks on to the pitch. He's highly competitive, does not like losing and fights till the end, all three being qualities I really admire. His skills need no elaboration. 

If you could meet anyone connected to Liverpool FC - past or present - who would it be and why?

If only there was a way to meet everyone connected to Liverpool FC, not just the players and managers but the fans around the world too! If I had to limit it to a few names, it would be Bill Shankly , Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Daniel Agger. I would also like to meet one fan who I really admire - Joshua Jackson. His story has really touched me and I commend him for his bravery. I always remember him in my prayers.

What makes you most proud to be a Liverpool supporter?

It would be the feeling of belonging to a very special community. There are sects within religions, provinces/states within countries, dialects within languages, castes within families etc. There are differences everywhere between people from all walks of life. But there are no differences /sub-tribes within this community of Liverpool supporters around the world. There are no hierarchies and we are all equal as supporters, which is possibly the only sphere in my life I can say that about. This makes me so fiercely proud of being a Liverpool supporter.

That being the primary reason, Liverpool's history, its achievements and the way the club stands by the families of the 96 and the amount of respect and acknowledgment it gives to its fans no matter where they're from, all add to why I'm a proud Liverpool supporter.

Finally, what does 'the Liverpool way' mean to you?

It means never giving up and fighting till the end. To me, it's about continuously striving to be better even in the most hopeless circumstances. It means to unite in the face of difficulties and having respect for those different from you.  

Liverpool FC is the only club in the world to have an official social media account for fans in Pakistan. Click here to follow @PakistanLFC today.

Previous articles in the Global LFC Family series:

South Africa - Melissa Reddy>>
Thailand - Jeerawan Duangnam Herriot>>
Australia - Wayne Psaila>>
Mexico - Victor Alvarado>>
Indonesia - Andhika Sarwendha Suksmana>>
Nepal - Nischal Adhikari>>
Ghana - Aristo Dotse>>
India - Kaushal Goyal>>
Singapore - Henry Hann>>
Bahrain - Mohamed Ashoor>>
Mongolia - Amarsaikhan Orsoo>>
Vietnam - Pham Quynh Le>>
USA - July 4th Special>>
Iran - Mohammad Reza Rahimi>>
South Korea - Yong-Suk Choi>>
Norway - Arild Skjæveland>>
Russia - Ivan Potapov>>
Myanmar - Khin Maung Cho>>
USA - Roy Yates>>
China - Chen Jing>>
Brazil - Bárbara Rubio>>
Kenya - Mitesh Chavda>>
Spain - Luis Gutierrez>>
Venezuela - Jorge De Castro>>
Greece - Efstratios Sakkias>>
Malaysia - Muzili Aznor Musa>> 
Taiwan - Roxan>>
Finland - Jani Lilja>>
Turkey - Ulfan Ismihanov>>
Mauritius - Jean-Carl Palmyre>>