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| October 23, 2003 | Thursday | Sha’aban 26, 1424 |
Interior Sindh players show lack of interest in soccer trials
KARACHI, Oct 22: Lack of response from interior of Sindh players forced the national football chief selector on Wednesday to plan for another leg of trials in December.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is holding trials in all the provinces to select a Under-23 squad for SAF Games to be organized by Islamabad in March next year. The trials in the provinces will be followed by final trials in Islamabad.
The chairman of the national selection committee, Yunus Changezi, said since only two players from interior Sindh came for the trials, he would suggest the PFF to hold the second round of trials in Hyderabad for the convenience of the players.
“The response is very poor from interior Sindh. There is hardly any interest in the game by the players, therefore, I will be holding another session in Hyderabad after Eid-ul-Fitr,” Changezi said on the last day of the trials at CDGK Stadium.
The chief selector said since the trials were being held on open basis, it was imperative to watch the players from interior of Sindh.
“The trials are being held for Sindh province not only for Karachi. I wish to see the interior Sindh players too since I don’t want to miss a single talented player from any area,” he said.
The selectors’ chief said either the selected 30 to 35 probables from Karachi would be asked to travel to Hyderabad or the players from interior Sindh would be directed to come to Karachi for the final round.
“The reason of absence of players from Sindh is probably they are unaware of the trials, they don’t have the money to travel to Karachi or they think they would not be selected,” the official said.
Changezi, also a former international, was not impressed with the kind of football standard he saw during the trials and blamed lack of activity for it.
“I did not see enthusiastic football during the trials and it is because there is hardly any (football) activity. The boys lack confidence and need good training,” the chief selector said.
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