The newly-appointed coach Akhtar Mohiuddin, who is training 27 players in the six-day camp in Lahore that will end on September 3, said that he has recommended five UK based Pakistani players for the team because most of the leading footballers in the national squad are over the age of 23.
“The only problem is confirmation from the foreign players,” Mohiuddin told The Express Tribune. “The players are willing to come but they are already engaged with their clubs. So we are expecting them to arrive by September 30.”
Mohiuddin added that he has asked the PFF to get the UK based defenders Amjad Iqbal, Asif Bashir and Bashir Khan along with two other players because of Pakistan’s weak defence. He added that the local players are physically fitter than the foreign ones but they lack technique.
“The inclusion of these defenders will ensure good performance in the Asian Games. These footballers are also playing for different clubs in England, so I believe they can emulate the same performance for Pakistan as well.”
However, the Asian Games football tournament allows three above 23 players in the squad, for which Mohiuddin has already shortlisted Essa Khan, Mohammad Rasool, Qasim Akhtar, Sammar Ishaq and goal-keeper Jaffer Khan.
“I am keeping Jaffer in the team. But I will choose two others after the second phase of the camp,” said the coach.
The second phase of the camp will begin on September 17 after 18 players will be shortlisted for the Asian Games.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2010.
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