Sports

Palestine series a priority, says PFF

Football chief blames large crowd for qualifier loss.

Natasha Raheel February 24, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan’s four-match bilateral football series against Palestine has become a priority after the team’s defeat to Malaysia in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers, according to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi.

“It’s very important for our team to do well in this series now that we have one more Olympic qualifier on March 9 against Malaysia,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “Our players received red and yellow cards mainly because they didn’t have the temperament to play in front of a large crowd. But now that we’re holding the series with Palestine, we’re expecting large crowds and we want our players to get comfortable with the idea of playing in front of big crowds.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

Ali Ahsan | 13 years ago | Reply They may not know this, but the Malaysian team also sent 3 scouts to observe the Pakistan team's training camps and practice games in Thailand in preparation for the qualifiers. They had prepared a proper plan to neutralise any influence Pakistan could hold in the game with their high pressing against our clumsy midfield and quick attacks that should have yielded more goals for Malaysia had it not been for some poor finishing and Muhammad Omer's impressive performance in goal for 2nd half. That red card by Ansar Abbas was foolish and stupid, and that finished any chance we had of regrouping for second half in get in an away goal.

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