Two Pakistanis sign up for Nepal league
Pakistan’s Naveed Akram and Mehmood Ali became the first two players signed by a foreign league club in 40 years and will represent the Sarawati Youth Club as part of a two-month contract.
Akram and Ali have been signed up for $1,300 per month and will take part in the Nepal Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League.
Saraswati YC had approached three Wapda players during their Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup matches in April. While Akram and Ali chose to sign the contract, striker Arif Mehmood declined the offer due to his commitments to the national camp.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” Akram told The Express Tribune. “I hope our national selectors recognise this and consider us for the national side.”
The Pakistan Football Federation Secretary Ahmed Yar Lodhi said that the players’ participation in the league will pave way for more Pakistani players to play abroad and also encourage foreign players to come to Pakistan when a semi-professional league is launched here next year.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2011.
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