The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) arranged two matches, each with Nepal and Maldives. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
KARACHI: As the Pakistan national team takes on Nepal in their first friendly football match of the year today, former captain Essa Khan feels that this is the last chance for Serbian coach Zavisa Milosavljevic to prove himself on the tour.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) arranged two matches, each with Nepal and Maldives, to provide the team some practice and experience ahead of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 qualifiers where the team will take on tough sides like Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Macau in group B matches.
Although the federation is pouring funds and arranging tours, Pakistan’s rankings with Fifa have slumped from 179 last year to 198 currently.
According to the PFF officials, Milosavljevic is currently trying to experiment and form a good combination especially playing against better sides like Nepal, who are in 170th position in the world rankings and Maldives (159). But Essa said that the Nepal-Maldives tour will be the last chance for the Serb to prove his talent as a coach for the young team.
“No matter what the coach or federation says, this team just can’t score,” Essa told The Express Tribune.
“They’re not improving if they’re not scoring goals in the international matches. It’s been a year and the rankings have fallen drastically. There is nothing wrong with the players because Kaleemullah and Muhammad Adil are scoring in the domestic leagues, but the coach has failed to find a good combination for the midfield.”
Meanwhile, captain Jaffar Khan feels the team is still not playing to its potential and goal-scoring is a major issue.
“We perform well, but there are no goals,” said Jaffar. “We scored only two international goals in the Singapore tour last year. Although we have talented players like Kaleem and Adil and now a Denmark-based forward Muhammad Ali, goal-scoring remains our biggest concern.
“We will try to win. We have a young team and we are still not sure who will be playing in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. It all depends on individual performances in the tour.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
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Hassan Bashir's late goal helped Pakistan inch past Nepal 1-0.
Can i see Pakistan in FIFA WC Finals in my life. I guess not so i will keep supporting Italy. Anyway its better to play Nepal than playing with no one. Best of Luck Green Shirts for friendlies and coming AFC challenge cup.