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| December 2, 2005 | Friday | Shawwal 29, 1426 |
I won’t promise glory at SAFF event, says coach
KARACHI, Dec 1: Pakistan soccer coach Salman Ahmed Sharida on Thursday did not promise a victory at SAFF championship, saying he had little time for preparations while the present group of players was talented but inexperienced. “The players we have now in the team are somewhat talented and young but they lack experience. I will not promise a victory at SAFF event but good football is all we will try to display,” former Bahraini coach told Dawn.
Sharida, who joined Pakistan team on Oct 23 a day after the trials started in Islamabad to shortlist probables for Asia Cup qualifiers training camp, said he had been out of touch with the South Asian region since long and had no idea about teams like India and Sri Lanka.
“It’s difficult to say anything about strengths and weaknesses of teams like India, Sri Lanka and others as I have not been in touch for quite some time with the developments and teams from South Asian region.”
The Bahraini was, however, more confident to deliver against minnows Afghanistan and Maldives, while he avoided to rate other sides.
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and hosts Pakistan will be in fray in the competition which runs from Dec 7 to 17 at People’s Sports Complex.
Sharida says since he has joined the Pakistan side a couple of months ago and is not sure whether the present bunch of players is the best available stuff, he will launch his talent-hunt soon after the SAFF contest.
“As I have just joined the squad, I am not sure about the present lot. There may be more talented players around the country, therefore, I would like to travel all over Pakistan to tap more talent if I could. There could be some players who are even better then the present ones but not explored,” he opined.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) started the trials a day before Sharida joined the camp and shorlisted the players within four days after calling up 70 probables without coach’s consultation. PFF did not change the schedule of the trials and training camp, citing lack of time for the preparations for the Asia Cup and SAFF championship.
Sharida put his weight behind having more talent in the squad and international exposure to yield better results.
“There should be more money and games for the players who should have incentive and more experience. Only then we can achieve good results.”
The coach said despite hiccups his side was in good shape and gearing up for the competition with full force.
“We played three games against local Bahraini clubs in Manama. We lost to Al-Muharraq 1-3, drew with Al-Najma 2-2 and lost to Al-Nadia Busteen 1-2. We could have done better against Muharraq but had to play with ten players after (Mohammad) Essa was red carded. These games gave good practice to us,” he said.
While Sharida points out lack of time for preparations and possibility of more talented players still unexplored, he is all praise for English Premier League’s Fulham defender Zesh Rehman.
“Zesh played in Bahrain against the local clubs and I believe he is a very, very talented player. I am sure he will be a motivating factor for other Pakistani players and a morale-booster,” he remarked.
Birmingham-born Rehman, who joined Pakistan team in Bahrain, return to play some league games for Fulham in England and is expected to join Pakistan side soon. Pakistan, who are in Karachi, have been practising for the past two days.
Rehman, who is of Pakistani decent, has chosen to play for Pakistan after being sidelined for England under-21 squad.
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