LAHORE, Nov 19: Twenty-six probables have been called to attend the national training football camp starting at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad from Dec 10 to prepare and finalise Pakistan team for the third South Asian Federation Football (SAFF) championship to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from Jan 10 to 20.
Pakistan seniors team coach Jozef Herel, whose contract with the PFF ends Dec 28, has been named to supervise the training camp. Herel’s appointment as coach after the expiry of his contract, clearly indicates that his contract will be extended by the PFF.
PFF has yet to take a decision whether it will retain both foreign coaches at its own expense, or not. The two coaches, Herel and John Layton were provided by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) under its Aid-26 programme.
Since the AFC has decided to terminate this programme from Dec 31, the PFF will have to bear their expenses if it wishes to retain the two.
A hectic schedule of Pakistan seniors is planned from January to April 30, beginning with the SAFF championship, qualifying rounds of the Olympics, Asia Cup and the ninth SAF Games.
Defenders: Haroon Yousaf (ABL), Tanveer Ahmad (Wapda), Hayatullah (KRL), Shahid Muhammad (Wapda), Shahzad Haider (army), Sameen Ibrahim (HBL), Gulzar Ahmad (army), Amir Shahzad (Army).
Midfielders: Sarfraz Rasool, (KRL), Zakir Hussain (Wapda), Sajjad Hussain (KRL), Ashfaq Ahmad (ABL), Ayaz Muhammad (KRL), Agha Syed Raza (Wapda), Muhammad Niaz (Wapda), Adeel Ahmed (PTCL).
Strikers: Qadeer Ahmad (KRL), Shahid Saleem (HBL), Muhammad Essa (PTCL), Zahid Niaz (PIA), Khuda Bakhsh, Zulifqar Ali Shah (Wapda).