Reminiscing the Brazil experience

Street Child World Cup team counting remaining hours, says coach.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Street Child World Cup (SCWC) team and the country’s national camp squad are ready to begin the countdown to the 2014 FIFA World Cup’s opening ceremony along with the rest of the world.

The nation’s strongest connection to Brazil remains the Street Child World Cup team that won a bronze medal at one of the venues in Maracana.

While more than two months have passed since the SCWC event, coach Abdul Rashid believes that the experience of seeing the World Cup venues on the television would still hold great interest for his side.



“I can’t believe that we were there,” Rashid told The Express Tribune. “We’ve played at the same venue where all of the world’s greatest teams will be competing now. It’s huge for us.”

Rashid also admitted that his support for the hosts is obvious.

“There is an emotional connection now; it’s a special place for us. I still can’t forget the quality of their grounds. They have the best football fields at these venues.

“All I can say is that Brazil is home to football and we’ve experienced the best during our outing. It’ll remain the place where we made Pakistan proud. And now, the World Cup matches are something more personal than ever.”

Meanwhile, the players in the ongoing national camp in Lahore are planning to watch the first match at the Pakistan Football Federation House.

“We’ll watch the first match together,” said striker Mansoor Khan. “I’ll be taking notes. I want to learn from this World Cup.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2014.

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