Sunday, May 13, 2012
KARACHI: Pakistan Under-22 football team was scheduled to leave for Palestine in the wee hours of Sunday (today) to feature in the Al-Nakba International Football tournament to be held at different venues there from May 13-24.
The 22-member team will be led by KRL striker Kaleemullah while NBP’s Faisal Iqbal will serve as his deputy.
Pakistan coach Zavisa Milosavljevic is confident that his team is capable enough to spring surprise. “Although I cannot predict what performance we will be able to produce in the tournament I believe that our team is good enough to spring surprise,” Zavisa told ‘The News’ on Saturday. “We could not practise hard due to short time and nine of our players were playing for KRL at the AFC President’s Cup. We mostly focused on technical and tactical aspects as the team is still passing through the preparatory phase ahead of the Asian Cup Qualifiers to be held in June-July in Saudi Arabia,” the coach said.
He added that the Palestine tour would definitely help the team learn before its major target in Saudi Arabia. “You know, such international events are absolutely necessary for preparing the team for any major cause and I hope that in Palestine we will face different teams of diverse strength which will help the side prepare for Asian Cup Qualifiers,” he said.
He said that after the Palestine tour, the players would be given three or four days’ rest and then the final camp would be held in Lahore, which would continue till the team’s departure for Saudi Arabia.
The event in Palestine will be held under round robin system and the top team from each group and the best second-placed side from the three groups will make it to the semifinals to be held on May 21. The final will be conducted on May 23.
The matches will be held at the Faisal Husseini Stadium, Alram, Nablus Municipal Stadium, Nablus, Majed Asad Stadium, Albireh, Alhussein Ben Ali Stadium, Hebron, and Dura Stadium, Dura.
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in their opener on May 14 at the Faisal Husseini Stadium, Palestine at Dura Stadium on May 16 and Vietnam at the Majed Asad Stadium on May 18.
Squad: Saqib Hanif, Muzammil Hussain, Tanvir Mumtaz, Manzoor Ahmad, Faisal Iqbal, Naveed Ahmad, Mohammad Usman, Ihsanullah, Saddam Hussain, Mohammad Aadil, Sheram Babar, Kaleemullah, Mehmood Khan, Sher Muhammad, Junaid Qadir, Bilawal-ur-Rehman, Imran Ali Khan, Afzal Salam, Mohammad bin Younis, Zakir Lashari, Usama Halim, Aamir Siddiqui. Reserves: Mohsin Ali.
Officials: Zavisa Milosavljevic (head coach/manager), Nasir Ismail (assistant coach), Aslam Khan (goalkeeping coach), Dr Kamran Mehdi (physiotherapist), Saeed Khan (Chief-de-Mission, former IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
Lahore Pakistan, Sunday, May 13, 2012
Pakistan National U-22 football team has left for Palestine on Sunday, May 13, 2012 through EY-242 at 0425 Hours PST from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore to take part in Al Nakba International Football Tournament in Palestine to be held from 13th May to 24th May, 2012. Pakistan has sent their Under-22 team for the competitions in order to prepare it for the Asian Cup Qualifiers to be held in Saudi Arabia from June 23 to July 3.
According to the press release issued here by Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President PFF wished national team the best. He hoped they shall play in an outstanding manner as the peoples of Pakistan are looking for a victory by their young players. He expressed his satisfaction on their training and the ability to play well.
The detail of national football team contingents are as follows: Kaleemullah (Captain), Faisal Iqbal (Vice Captain), Saddam Hussain (Vice Captain) Saqib Hanif, Muzammil Hussain, Tanvir Mumtaz, Manzoor Ahmad, Naveed Ahmad, Mohammad Osman, Ahsanullah, Mohammad Aadil, Sheram Babar, Mehmood Khan, Sher Muhammad, Junaid Qadir, Bilawal-ur-Rehman, Imran Ali Khan, Usama Haleem, Abdul Salam, Muhammad, Zakir Lashari and Amir Siddiqui.
The officials of the National team are Zavisha Milosavljevich (Head Coach), Syed Nasir Ismail (Assistant Coach), Muhammad Aslam Khan (Goalkeeper Coach), Dr. Kamran Mehdi (Physio) and Muhammad Saeed Khan (Chief De Mission).
Pakistan have been placed in Group A with the hosts Palestine, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, according to the draws unveiled by the Palestine Football Association (PFA) for the Al-Nakba International Football tournament penciled in for May 13-24 at different venues in Palestine. Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Iraq/Kurdistan have been adjusted in Group B while Tunisia, Jordon and Mauritania have been bracketed in Group C.
The event will be held under round robin system and a leading team from each group and the best third placed side from the three groups will make it to the semifinals to be held on May 21. The final will be played on May 23. This is the second time that the PFA is organizing the event with the assistance of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
The matches will be held at the Faisal Husseini Stadium, Alram, Nablus Municipal Stadium, Nablus, Majed Asad Stadium, Albireh, Alhussein Ben Ali Stadium, Hebron, and Dura Stadium, Dura. Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in their opener on May 14 at Faisal Husseini Stadium. Pakistan will be pitted against Palestine at Dura Stadium on May 16, followed by their last group game against Vietnam at the Majed Asad Stadium on May 18.