KARACHI: Pakistan Under-22 football team started their short training camp in Lahore on Monday evening to prepare for the Al-Nakba International Football tournament to be held in Palestine from May 13-22.
“Yes, we started training today in the evening at the City School Ground here,” coach Zavisa Milosavljevic told ‘The News’ from Lahore on Monday. Besides Pakistan and hosts Palestine, the countries taking part are Jordon, Tunisia, Mauretania, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Lebanon, Uzbekistan and Iraq.
Although it is an open tournament, Pakistan are sending their Under-22 team in order to give it practice ahead of the Asian Cup Qualifiers group matches to be held in Saudi Arabia from June 23 to July 3. “A 23-member team will proceed to Palestine,” Zavisa said.
Pakistan are scheduled to leave for Palestine in the wee hours of May 13 from Lahore. Nasir Ismail and Aslam Khan are assisting Zavisa during training. The same Under-22 team recently returned from a two-week training tour of Thailand where they played four practice matches against local clubs, also featuring foreign-based players. PFF is, meanwhile, trying to manage another two-week tour to a Gulf state for the team after their tour to Palestine.