Lahore, 21 April : Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and AFC Legal Committee Chairman on Thursday expressed delight and congratulated Pakistan WAPDA team for their stubborn, committed and high-spirited display in beating Nepal Police Club 2-0 in Group-C tie at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in 7th AFC President’s Cup. The all important goals were struck by spearhead Arif Mehmood and winger Jadeed Khan.
“To beat Nepal’s top division club with handsome scoreline is not mere achievement as Nepalese have a firm history in football having AFC President’s Cup Runners-up in 2007 at Lahore and won the Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League twice. It shows that our footballers have courage, exuberant and stamina.Pakistan’s display in were applauded by even home supporters and AFC representatives as WAPDA fired goals in both session,” said Faisal.
Faisal observed that the team won the hearts of soccer fans back home through industrious performance and continue their spirited fashion in future matches against Taiwan Power Company and Turkmenistan’s Balkan FC.
Faisal specially praised the performance of skipper Arif Mehmood who led the team with command plus goal keeper Abdul Aziz who came out from turf without conceding a goal. He also spoke highly of ever-agile Zulfiqar Al Shah and goal scorer Jadeed Khan and appreciated other players Muhammad Ahmed, Manzoor Ahmad, Muzaffar Ali, Akram Masih, Imran Niazi, Muhammad Asif, Naveed Akram, Arif Hussain and Mahmood Ali.
He also urged WAPDA to observe Fair Play and asked manager Munawar Malik and coach Khalid Butt to cool down players as four of them got the yellow card from referee Marai Mohammed Alawaji (Saudi Arabia) viz Naveed Akram 45, Muhammad Asif 54, Muhammad Ahmed 79 and Arif Hussain 83.
Faisal Saleh Hayat is great exponent of Fair Play and Sportsmanship and he is also Pakistani representative in the FIFA/AFC Disciplinary Committee. “we need to cherish and nurture the values of sporting spirit and work tirelessly to keep up the momentum. Fair play is essential to our sport and to everyone involved in it. Myself, on behalf of other PFF officials, has appealed to players, referees, fans and officials throughout Pakistan to help praise and promote the spirit of fair play,” said Faisal.