New football coach focuses on Malaysia

Lutfi replaces Mohiuddin after funding refused for foreign coach.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has replaced national team coach Akhtar Mohiuddin and signed a one-year contract with Tariq Lutfi.

Mohiuddin coached the team for the Asian Games last year and was replaced after the PFF decided that its best available option was Lutfi who has a better record with the national side.

“This is a change for the better,” the PFF Secretary Ahmed Yar Lodhi told The Express Tribune.

“Mohiuddin has worked hard and we acknowledge that but Lutfi has a better record with the national side. We only waited because we were still trying to convince the sports ministry to provide funding for Graham Robert’s appointment but since that wasn’t happening, Lutfi was our best option.”

Lutfi’s last assignment with the PFF was coaching the women’s team for the first SAFF Women Championship in Bangladesh last year where the team reached the semi-finals.

“My priority lies in winning the matches against Malaysia so that will be the focus,” said Lutfi. “It’s great that the PFF is organising foreign tours so that the team gets exposure.”

He added that he is keenly following the national camp to pick the best players for the national team.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2011.