by Natasha Raheel
KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) coach Hassan Baloch believes his team can make an impact at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup qualifying play-offs against Al-Hidd when the two clubs face off in Bahrain on February 9.
Baloch, who is overseeing the preparations of the team at the training camp which in currently under way, believes that KE, who recently secured the services of KRL’s Mehmood Khan (midfielder), Dawood Khan (defender) and Ehsanuallh (defender) this month, has the right balance in the squad to compete in the continent’s second-tier tournament.
“We have players like Essa Khan and Mohammad Rasool, but we needed new players to strengthen our squad and find the right balance,” Baloch told The Express Tribune. “It’s the biggest opportunity for KE as we have never competed at this level before.”
Baloch also added that the new signings from KRL would have no trouble gelling with the squad as they all hail from the same area, Chaman.
Apart from the trio, a Kenyan and two Nigerian players are also part of the KE squad but would not be able to train with the team as they have not been issued visas or No-Objection Certificates by the Pakistan government.
Meanwhile, Mehmood is confident that he can help KE against Al-Hidd, having previously played in the AFC President’s Cup for KRL in 2013.