Lack of basics trump Pakistani women footballer’s talent

The national team, in both its matches, displayed almost non-existent technique when executing basic skills

KARACHI: Why was a Pakistani defender playing so deep that she could literally have shaken the hand of the goalie, nullifying any chance of an offside? How is anyone supposed to receive a pass that has been blindly hoofed forward? Why is the goalkeeper kicking the ball as high in the air as possible rather than trying to kick it long? Why are the defenders static once they are beaten, standing their ground rather than trying to get back? Why is no one supporting the lone striker from the wings or from central midfield?

The Pakistan women team may realistically be out of the South Asian Football Federation’s Women’s Football Championship after losing its first two Group B matches, 2-1 to Sri Lanka and 2-0 to Nepal, but these questions would surely have been burning in the minds of those who watched the matches.

As someone who has played more football than he has seen it, I understand that watching a match on TV is very different from being out there in the middle. But surely when playing at this level it is not much to ask a player to display some sort of technique in four basic attacking skills: first touch, dribbling, passing and shooting.

The Pakistan team, in both its matches, displayed almost non-existent technique when executing these basic skills. Away from the debate of a lack of facilities, scarcity of experienced coaches, and incentives, the Pakistan women team showed the real face of women’s football in Pakistan. The players were brimming with talent and a desire to deliver for their nation at the grandest of stages but for all their talent and passion, they lacked the technique required to succeed at this level.

Instead of showing the necessary calm required on the ball against top-class opponents, the defenders often tried to hoof the ball upfield and usually ended up slicing it out for corners when doing so. Clear goal-scoring opportunities were missed as players lost the ball under their feet when running towards goal. Many of the passes, instead of picking out a teammate, were hit blindly in a general direction. Shots towards goals or searching long balls were almost non-existent but when they did arrive, they often resulted in disappointment.

Perhaps the only silver lining in either of the matches was the performance of goalkeeper Mahpara against Nepal, who won by only two goals when in reality they could have added several more. When all else failed, and the teammates ahead of her continued to make blunder after blunder, it was often the 21-year-old who stood tall as the last line of defence, defying the much superior opponents on a number of occasions.

Coach Tariq Lutfi has done a great job of infusing confidence into this young side but still he needs to improve their basic techniques, both on and off the ball. Instead of jumping in the air to head a ball into the air when under no pressure, he needs to prepare them to bring the ball down with their chest and then pass or shoot with the ball under their control. He needs to provide them with a plan to go along with their talent.

All in all, the Pakistan women’s team has earned the respect of local fans, especially with their performance in the second match, but one cannot shake off the feeling that had they displayed slightly sounder technique, the international footballing community may also have stood up and taken notice.

The process may take time and require patience, but if women’s football in the country is to reach lofty heights then long-term measures need to be implemented.

 

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