LAHORE, Aug 27: Salman Ahmad Sharida, the Pakistan football coach under whom Pakistan won South Asian Games gold was praised by president Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Sunday.

Pakistan won the gold after defeating Sri Lanka 1-0.

"PFF brought Salman from Bahrain last October and now he has become a national hero. He is the first foreign coach to bring the gold for Pakistan from abroad," said president PFF Faisal Saleh Hayat.

"Beating Sri Lanka twice in Colombo is no mean achievement. I remember they defeated us 4-0 during Lahore's first SAFF championship 13 years ago," he said.

Pakistan won gold medal in the South Asian Games in 1989, 1991 and 2004.

In 1989 and 2004, Pakistan was the hosts of the games and played under a Chinese coach.

Faisal talked to team member of the team and praised, especially skipper Mohammad Essa for his match-winner against Nepal in the semi-finals.