WAPDA eye revenge in AFC President’s Cup
The Pakistan Premier Football League (PPL) Champions Wapda are set to face Turkmenistan’s Balkan Football Club in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup 2011 match that will be played on April 24 in Nepal.
Although Wapda begin their campaign against Nepal Police Club on April 20, coach Khalid Butt believes the clash against Turkmenistan will be more exciting as he aims to avenge their 2009 semi-final defeat to them.
“I know my team is better than the clubs from Nepal and Taiwan,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “But our toughest competitor will be the Balkans and I’m looking forward to that clash.”
Wapda have been included in the championship following their emergence as the best football club of the country after they clinched the PPL title in December last year.
Coach emphasises on
fitness
A pre-tournament camp – where Butt is training 22 footballers, who will be later shortlisted for the 11-member team – has been set-up in Lahore since April 6.
“This time it’s going to be different, we’ve been spending six hours in the field just to make sure that players are physically fit to face strong players from Turkmenistan and Nepal,” said Butt.
The 54-year old also stressed on the importance of the players’ fitness levels for the tournament.
“Fitness has always been our issue but I don’t want the team to get eliminated in the first round just because of their lack of fitness. It’s a shame for any coach to have an unfit team.”
Wapda have been placed in Group C with the Nepal Police club, Taiwan Power Company and Balkan FC. The group matches will be played from April 20 to May 25 and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the six-team finals that will be played in August.
Butt is coaching two teams currently and his first priority is the team that will go to Nepal.
The other team has been formed to play in the Pakistan Football Federation Challenge Cup that will begin on April 18.
The alternate squad will represent the department in the local tournament in the absence of Wapda’s original team that comprises national players including striker Arif Mehmood, midfielder Arif Hassan, Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Naveed Akram.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ