January 16, 2007	Tuesday	Zilhaj 25, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 15: Pakistan kicked off their Olympic qualifying campaign on Monday in the mysterious absence of coach Salman Ahmed Sharida at Pakistan Navy Sports Complex amid reports of change in team coach.

While 18 out of 37 probables reported for camp training, Sharida is still in his home country Bahrain where he had gone straight after last December’s Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

Although there are reports that Sharida is reluctant to join the Pakistan camp because of unknown reasons, camp commandant Irfan Khan Niazi insists that the Bahraini has stayed back at home to attend his ailing mother.

Apart from Irfan, Sharida’s deputies Mohammad Rasheed and goalkeeping coach Mohammad Afzal are supervising the camp trainees in absence of their coach.

Asked if he had any knowledge of Sharida’s return or any intimation from the PFF about his reported removal from post, Irfan said the coach might join soon but had no idea when that would happen.

“Salman might join us but frankly speaking I have no idea when he will do so. I have so far not been informed about any changes in coach. Only PFF president (Faisal Saleh) will be able to tell you that,” the camp commandant said. However, when contacted, Faisal was not available for comments.

According to camp commandant, PFF has planned to announce the squad on Jan 22 or 23 for Olympic qualifiers next month. Pakistan are to play Singapore on Feb 7 while the two teams play a home match in Peshawar on Feb 14.

Since Pakistan team is scheduled to depart for Singapore on Feb 3, they barely have two weeks for training for the all-important event. But the present scenario paints a gloomy picture in Sharida’s conspicuous absence which has made things bleaker and tougher for Pakistan.

The country’s football has been plagued by intrigues, dirty politics and infighting among officials while manoeuvring and joyrides have been a constant pull-down factors over the years for a game which made a lot of impact in the 1960s and the ‘70s at the Asian level.

Pakistan had two British coaches till 2003 as part of the Asian Football Confederation soccer promotion programme for developing countries. Although they started from scratch and gave a tremendous boost to Pakistan soccer, both were given a tough time my mischievous elements seeking their place.

Meanwhile, the camp management is facing yet another problem as most of the probables are busy playing national league for their respective departments which has resulted in only 18 out of 37 reporting for the national duty.