Serbian coach hopes for football revival

Milosavljec named Lutfi’s replacement, handed revival duties.

LAHORE:

Pakistan football’s new coach Zavisa Milosavljec has put his onus on not just building the national team but also developing the youth and training local coaches after being unveiled by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) yesterday.

Milosavljec, 50, has been appointed on a two-year deal as he sets out on his third assignment with a team sliding downhill in the world of football. His role, simply, is to resurrect the squad’s performance and also enhance and expedite the youth development, with the size of the task not lost on him.

“My responsibility is big and I am ready for it,” said Milosavljec. “Form, tactics, fitness, winning mentality, unity and discipline will be the criteria of selection in the national squad.”

According to Milosavljec, language will not be a barrier and communication will not be an issue with his new team, expecting ‘good standards’ from the players while ruling out any security concerns.

The new coach takes over from Tariq Lutfi who, earlier this year, had pledged retirement if Pakistan was to get knocked out of the Olympic qualifiers. Milosavljec’s first test will be the Saff Championship that takes place next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2011.