March 09, 2007	Friday	Safar 19, 1428

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LAHORE, March 8: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is yet to arrange a foreign coach, although national team has to play home and away Olympic qualifying round matches this month.

After qualifying for second phase of the qualifiers, beating Singapore with aggregate 5-3, were thrashed 8-0 by Bahrain in away match. They have to face Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait on home and away basis in this round.

However, since Bahraini coach Salman Ahmed Sharida, the PFF is relying on a local coach Mohammad Rasheed who has done only 'C' License coaching course.

Bahrain had sent Sharida to Pakistan free of charge in 2005. The coach, however, vanished and went back to his home country after the Asian Games in Qatar to join Al-Moharrak Sports Club.

Although Pakistan defeated Singapore under Rasheed, thrashing by Bahrain exposed the deficiencies. The remaining matches against Asian giants will be an uphill task for Pakistan.

In next matches, Pakistan have to play Qatar in Islamabad on March 14, Kuwait in Lahore on March 28 and again against the same country at away basis on April 18.

Pakistan will host Bahrain on May 16 for which venue is yet to be decided. In the last match Pakistan will visit Qatar to play on June 6.

PFF secretary Lt-Col Ahmed Yar Lodhi said federation was trying to hire the services of Brazilian coach from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

"We have made a request to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) who have a Brazilian coach. We are expecting a positive reply in next couple of days," the PFF secretary told Dawn.

The Brazilian coach is already in Pakistan following an understanding made between the chiefs of air staff of Brazil and Pakistan.

The secretary said the PFF had also contacted Bahrain Football Association asking for Sharida’s alternate. However, he said, there was no encouraging reply.

However, PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat had recently said that decision regarding the hiring of foreign coach would be taken within three or four months.

Asked why the PFF had not decided the venue of the match against Bahrain (May 16), the secretary said the federation wanted to play it in Lahore only in the first week of May and had requested FIFA for a change in date.

"We want to host Bahrain at Punjab Stadium, Lahore but it will also be venue of the AFC President Cup from May 15, therefore, it is not possible to host the match against the Gulf state during that time," he said.

He said the PFF was also interested to host the match in Faisalabad but except Iqbal Cricket Stadium there was no other venue, having required facilities

However, he added, match could not be played because of the cricket pitches at Iqbal Stadium while the administration was also not willing to allow the use of facility for a football match.