Qatar, UAE refuse to play Pakistan
Footballers left with just training camp ahead of Olympics qualifiers.
KARACHI:
Pakistan football team’s plans of practicing against international teams ahead of the Olympics qualifiers were dealt a heavy blow as Qatar and the UAE refused to host them as planned.
According to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, the federation was in talks with Qatar and UAE to have two practice matches against each team before the qualifiers against Bangladesh on June 29 and July 3. However, both teams have declined the offer citing packed schedule.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be playing any international matches before the qualifiers,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “The Qatar team is busy as the domestic season has just started there while UAE is unavailable due to their commitments with international clubs.”
Lodh, while confirming that the federation will now just hold a 25-day camp in Lahore to prepare the team, added that the PFF never confirmed the matches with their opponents. The federation was intending to hold the practice matches as their bilateral series against Palestine was cancelled last month.
Meanwhile, coach Tariq Lutfi, who claimed that it was important for the team to play competitive sides in order to improve, confirmed that the camp had been extended from two weeks to 25 days.
“I’m very disappointed because match practice makes all the difference,” said Lutfi. “In order to prepare them well, I’ll schedule a few matches with local clubs.”
Lutfi started the national camp in Lahore from June 2 with 29 participants that include seniors and under-23 footballers. The first phase of the camp will comprise coaches selecting 18 players from the group while the national squad for Olympics qualifiers will be announced on June 20.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2011.
Pakistan football team’s plans of practicing against international teams ahead of the Olympics qualifiers were dealt a heavy blow as Qatar and the UAE refused to host them as planned.
According to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi, the federation was in talks with Qatar and UAE to have two practice matches against each team before the qualifiers against Bangladesh on June 29 and July 3. However, both teams have declined the offer citing packed schedule.
“Unfortunately, we won’t be playing any international matches before the qualifiers,” Lodhi told The Express Tribune. “The Qatar team is busy as the domestic season has just started there while UAE is unavailable due to their commitments with international clubs.”
Lodh, while confirming that the federation will now just hold a 25-day camp in Lahore to prepare the team, added that the PFF never confirmed the matches with their opponents. The federation was intending to hold the practice matches as their bilateral series against Palestine was cancelled last month.
Meanwhile, coach Tariq Lutfi, who claimed that it was important for the team to play competitive sides in order to improve, confirmed that the camp had been extended from two weeks to 25 days.
“I’m very disappointed because match practice makes all the difference,” said Lutfi. “In order to prepare them well, I’ll schedule a few matches with local clubs.”
Lutfi started the national camp in Lahore from June 2 with 29 participants that include seniors and under-23 footballers. The first phase of the camp will comprise coaches selecting 18 players from the group while the national squad for Olympics qualifiers will be announced on June 20.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 4th, 2011.