January 21, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 20, 1426

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LAHORE, Jan 20: Pakistan is vying with Cambodia in its effort to bid for hosting the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s President Cup. AFC officials have inspected facilities in Cambodia and Pakistan to decide which of the two countries will host the event scheduled for May 3-13.

Eight countries, at the bottom of AFC ranking, will send the winners of their national league to take part in the competition.

Director Technical Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Mujahid told Dawn on Friday that an AFC delegation would visit Lahore and Peshawar on Jan 27 and 28 to inspect the facilities available for hosting the international event.

“The PFF recommended Lahore and Peshawar as two available venues and the AFC will make the final decision after visiting the proposed venues in Cambodia also,” Mujahid stated.

“We are hopeful the Punjab government will install the floodlights at the Punjab Stadium as the prime minister has released his share of Rs10 million for the project. The provincial government too should pay its share now,” he said.

He said that Karachi and Islamabad were not recommended as venues for different reasons.

“Karachi had organized a good number of international activities in the recent past while in Islamabad the less attendance of people refrained PFF from selecting these cities,” he said.