ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will kick start its first activity of the year with a U-21 football series slated to be held from Jan 19-31 in Islamabad.

The event is part of the talent hunt series to prepare a strong squad for the 11th South Asian Federation Games (SAF) to be held this year in Dhaka.

“The scheduled series will prepare a strong football team for the 11th SAF games and the PFF will also hire the services of a foreign coach for this purpose,” Development officer of PFF North Zone, Irfan Niazi, told Dawn on Tuesday.

“All the affiliated units of the federation will participate in the U-21 series.”

Pakistan had won two gold medals in in the 9th and 10th SAF Games held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively.

Irfan added: “In the 9th SAF Games Pakistan defeated India while in the 10th SAF Games our team claimed a gold defeating Sri Lanka.”

Eight South Asian countries participate in the SAF games held after every two years.

Three hundred and fifty players were likely to appear in the scheduled series. “We will select top 60 players from the event and the final selection will be made by the PFF selection committee,” he said. Pakistan are currently ranked 163rd in the FIFA rankings and 33rd in their continental ranking.

With the current event, he said, the PFF would be able to build a second string also advantageous for filling up the gap in the senior squad on need to need basis. He informed that the PFF president had a very clear vision for the development of football and this was one of the initiatives.

“I am hopeful that the federation is likely to send its U-21 team to European and some gulf countries where the players will gain international exposure and experience to prepare for the 11th SAF Games,” Irfan stated.