Shehzad questions late camp for SAFF Cup

Former Pakistan head coach warns a short training camp could leave players underprepared and increase risk of injuries

KARACHI:

Former Pakistan head coach Shehzad Anwar has expressed his surprise over the way the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has started the national senior team's camp so late for the SAFF Cup, which will begin in Dhaka on November 5.

"It's strange," Shehzad told The Express Tribune on Saturday.

"You knew that the event was outside the FIFA window and foreign-based players would not be available, and you would have to go with local players, who were out of shape as there is no league or domestic football to keep them in shape," Shehzad said.

"You should have held a lengthy camp, but I don't know why it is being done," Shehzad said.

"You need at least a six-week camp for proper conditioning. In a week's time, players cannot even relax, so how will you train them?" Shehzad pointed out.

Shehzad, who has experience of serving as Pakistan head coach at the 2013 SAFF Cup, said even the world's top trainer could not do anything in this situation.

"If you bring in the world's top trainer, it will still be of no use. If you put a load on players who are not in shape, you will make them injured, and if they don't get injured, they will definitely go into the red zone and be on the brink of injury," Shehzad said.

This correspondent understands that players assembled for the camp on October 26 and were given their kits on October 28.

According to sources, even manager Shahzaib Khan was in Baku and joined the camp only recently.

The Pakistan team are scheduled to fly out for Dhaka on Monday.

Shehzad said that a league was very important.

"If you had a league, then only a week-long camp would have been enough, and you could have worked on tactical things. Now you will want the coach to produce results, and if he fails, he will be blamed. He cannot be blamed in this situation when you have not given him enough time to train the players for such an important assignment," Shehzad said.

This is not the first time that the PFF has mishandled things.

Last time, too, head coach Nolberto Solano could not get his visa in time and had to rush to Indonesia to join the squad directly for the ASEAN Cup.

Shehzad said that Pakistan always needed lengthy camps and that without them it was not possible to build a strong side.

"Even if your team delivers results at the cost of injuries to some players, it is also against the spirit of the game. Players need ample time in camp. If Bangladesh hold a camp late, they have their own league and their players are in perfect shape," Shehzad said.

It would be a real test for Nolberto Solano's charges to deliver at the SAFF Cup, which Pakistan have never won.

Pakistan are in Group B with India and Maldives, while Group A comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

Pakistan will face India in their opening match on November 5. India have announced a second-string side for the event. Their senior team will travel to New Zealand for two friendly matches. They will face the hosts in Auckland on November 12 and Christchurch on November 15.

Nepal is missing the event for the first tme in history due to suspension issue.