November 13, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 02, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 12: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has called back its Youth team coach Bashir Ahmed, from Iran ahead of Pakistan’s fourth match against Lebanon in the 36th AFC U-19 Championship, due to the dismal performance.

A PFF press release issued on Monday said that under the directive of president Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Bashir had been instructed to come back while his assistant Sajjad Mahmood was instructed to handle matters there.

The PFF president took the decision after Pakistan’s pathetic display in the competition, particularly losing to India 5-0 on Sunday.

Against India, Pakistan started the game in unsatisfactory manner and conceded three goals inside 15 minutes. Sushil Kisku opened the scoring in the 15th minute through a penalty-kick.

Sathyan Sabeeth consolidated the lead ten minutes later and Khangembam Thoi Singh made it 3-0 in the 40th minute.

India, added two more goals in the second session of play through Kisku (82nd) and Malsawmdawliana in the 88th minute.

It was first time in the 60-year soccer history of Pakistan that PFF had called back the coach of the team following disappointing display.

Pakistan are to play Lebanon on Nov 14 and Bahrain on Nov 17. Pakistan had also lost to Iran 14-0.

Pakistan, placed in group B with Iran, Oman, Lebanon, India and Bahrain, are at the bottom with no points, conceding 20 goals without scoring a single gaol.

The Youth team’s performance must be a bitter disappointment for the PFF, which in order to raise a future team had ignored the senior one, making a lot investment on the youngsters, without any proper coaching system.

Standings of ‘B’ group (tabulate shows, teams, points, wins, draws, loss, goal for, goal against and points):

Iran 3 2 1 0 15 0 7

Oman 3 2 1 0 3 1 7

Lebanon 3 2 0 1 5 3 6

India 3 1 0 2 7 4 3

Bahrain 3 1 0 2 2 4 3

Pakistan 3 0 0 3 0 20 0