January 26, 2007	Friday	Muharram 06, 1428

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KARACHI, Jan 25: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Thursday announced a 20-man squad for Olympic qualifying matches which includes newcomer Abid Khan and a largely unknown team official who could at best be termed a joyrider for the important trip to Sinagpore on Feb 3.

While Abid is set to make his debut in the away encounter, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has appointed one Syed Nayyar Hasnain as “chef-de-mission” for the tour despite the fact that the squad will be accompanied by four other officials including the team manager and two coaches.

Nayyar, a police official and a relative of PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat, has no connection with football whatsoever. In March 2005 too, he was inducted as one of the members of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) advisory board. With a number of ‘useless’ individuals as its members, the board constituted by former PHF president Tariq Kirmani was duly abolished by current PHF chief, Zafarullah Jamali.

It has been a tradition in Pakistan sports, and football is no exception, to send favourites on offshore tours in the garb of officials. Being a developing country which still lacks major sponsorship and funds in football, it would have been better if PFF could send only three or four officials and saved some valuable funds provided by FIFA and the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

Team manager Irfan Khan Niazi, however, expressed ignorance by saying he didn’t have a clue about Nayyar’s credentials. “I don’t know this person (Nayyar). All I know is that he is a police officer and has been appointed chef-de-mission of the contingent by the PFF president. He will represent the team,” Irfan said.

The manager said although Bahraini coach Salman Ahmed Sharida had not joined the squad yet, it would have been an ideal situation had he been retained with Pakistan squad for at least two years.

“I personally feel that Sharida should be with Pakistan team for at least two years to give our side some stability. If he joins us even after the Singapore trip, he should be with Pakistan squad for two more years. But since he is not here, coach (Mohammad) Rasheed is doing a fine job.”

When asked how he rated the national side’s chances against the lowly-rated Singapore after their encouraging show in the recently held Asian Games in Doha where Pakistan narrowly lost to Japan and South Korea, Irfan said the hosts would be no pushovers.

“Singapore are ranked 126th and Pakistan are placed at 171 in the world. Therefore, Singapore would not be such an easy opponents. Besides, they had been training for this event since January 2006,” said the manager. He, however, was unconvincing when asked how Pakistan performed so well against the Asian giants Japan and South Korea at the Asiad. “Results can only be known after the matches,” he said.

Japan are placed at 46th in FIFA world rankings while South Korea, placed at 51st spot, created a stir at 2002 World Cup by making it to the semi-finals.

According to team manager, Pakistan under-21 squad to be captained by midfielder Zahid Hameed, has several gold medallists from 2004 SAF Games and 2006 South Asian Games.

Pakistan outfit will continue to train at Pakistan Navy Sports Complex till their departure for Singapore on Feb 3 where they play the qualifier on Feb 7. The squad returns on Feb 8 to play a home match in Peshawar on Feb 14.

Pakistan squad:

Goalkeepers: Mahmood Ahmad and Ghulam Nabi.

Defenders: Mohammad Shahid, Abbas Ali, Haji Mohammad, Samar Ishaq, Mohammad Imran, Yasir Afridi.

Midfielders: Imran Niazi, Zahid Hameed, Mubashir Hussain, Farooq Shah, Mohammad Waseem, Jaffar Ali.

Strikers: Nasrullah Khan, Mohammad Rasool, Abdul Aziz, Abid Khan, Mubashir Shanjrani and Fahim Riaz.

Officials: Syed Nayyar Hasnain (chef-de-mission), Irfan Khan Niazi (manager), Mohammad Rasheed (coach), Mohammad Afzal (goalkeeping coach), Kamran Mehdi (physiotherapist).