Lutfi advises Essa to ‘sort out attitude’

Football coach wants former captain to be part of team.

KARACHI:

Pakistan football coach Tariq Lutfi has advised former captain Essa Khan to ‘sort out his attitude’ before thinking about making a comeback to the national squad.

Lutfi, who joined the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) as head coach in January, said that Essa was a talented player whose services could be utilised in the future. However, the former captain, who announced his retirement last year over differences with then-coach George Kottan, needed to get his act together, according to Lutfi.

“I don’t hold anything against the seniors or Essa,” Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “In fact I want them to come forward. He retired when he wanted and will need to earn his place back in the team. We can’t accept his condition to make him captain for two years, which is unreasonable and unfair to the other players.”

Essa, who is currently representing Karachi Electric Supply Company in local tournaments, has asked for the captain’s armband for two years before he makes himself available for Pakistan. However, the coach has said  his demand cannot be met.

“It’s the player who needs to comply with the team and the management but Essa is expecting everyone to work around his decisions.”

Essa said he forwarded the demand since he did not ‘trust the team management’ and captaincy guarantees him a place in the ‘fragile management’.

“There’s no stability in the PFF set-up,” he said. “Right now, Lutfi’s the coach. Tomorrow there might be someone else.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.