February 10, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 21, 1428

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: Former national football captains hailed Pakistan’s rare Olympic qualifier away victory against Sinagpore on Wednesday.

“Pakistan’s stubborn display against a formidable Singapore side in the preliminary round is a fantastic achievement, considering the fact that the home team’s last win in an Olympic qualifier came as long back as 1963 against Iran by 1-0 at Lahore,” said Ghulam Rabbani who captained Pakistan against Burma in 1961.

“The victory is proof enough that we are improving in leaps and bounds.”

Another former captain Zafar Iqbal who led the national team in SAFF championship in 1993 said that Pakistan was now getting in the habit of wining on foreign soils,” said Zafar.

“Pakistan has defeated Sri Lanka (twice), Nepal and Bhutan once each at Colombo last year and now they have beaten Singapore against all odds.”

Zafar also commended Pakistan’s fine show in last year’s Asian Games and said it was no mean feat to challenge the tough Arabian rivals as well as Japan and North Korea in Doha as they are highly ranked sides in the world.

“Pakistan's put up fine display despite its limitations,” he said. “It was a great step to announce the reward of Rs1.5 lacs and Rs5 lacs for national team’s good show in SAF Games and against Singapore respectively.

The PFF is also doing a fine job for Pakistani footballers, administrators, coaches and referees.”—Agencies