LAHORE, Feb 9: Pakistan U-21 football skipper Zahid Hameed, described the 2-1 away win of the 29th Olympics Games preliminary round against Singapore a memorable occasion in the history of Pakistan football as well as in his life.
Speaking to the media upon arrival from Singapore, Zahid said that beating Singapore before their own crowd was something special.
"It will indeed give a lot of encouragement and boost to our football and we will try to keep up the winning tempo while facing Singapore at home on Wednesday." Zahid said.
Quetta-born skipper and double gold medallist of SAF Games in 2004 and 2006, Zahid (Wapda) said he was a proud man as his boys fought hard to see Pakistan winning their first Olympic match on foreign soil in its 59 soccer history.
He said some shortcomings had been noticed during the match against Singapore and that would be removed before meeting them again hopefully for another win.
He said the forwards played a key role in the team’s victory as they cashed in on the scoring opportunity.
The midfielders, he said also created opportunities for the forwards, while the defenders kept the rivals at bay.
Mubashir Hussain, who scored one goal said that Singapore gained some control over the game with Amri's header in the 57th minute. But 12 minutes later he struck the equaliser.
"I was fortunate to find a loose ball and send it over Singapore's custodian Zaiful Nizam, into the back of the net," he said.
Midfielder Farooq Shah (NBP), born in Karachi, who scored the winner in the 67th minute, said that he came in the field as a substitute and thank God his field goal proved the match-winner, giving Pakistan football tremoundous joy.
Earlier, the winning team received a warm welcome at the Lahore Airport.
Meanwhile, the PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat, expressed confidence in the victorious team saying it was a talented side and hoped they would also win the second match against Singapore on Wednesday to join big teams of Asia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in the second qualifying round.
Singapore U-21 team, under coach Terry Pathmanathan, will reach Lahore on Feb 11.
Team: Goal Keepers (2) : Mehmood Ahmed, Ghulam Nabi
Defenders (7) : Muhammad Shahid, Abbas Ali, Haji Muhammad, Samar
Ishaq, Imran Niazi, Muhammad Imran, Yasir Afridi
Midfielders (6) : Zahid Hameed (c), Mubashar Hussain, Abdul Aziz,
Farooq Shah, Muhammad Waseem, Jaffar Ali
Strikers (5) : Nasr Ullah Khan, Muhammad Rasool, Abid Khan, Mubashar
Shajrani, Faheem Riaz
Officials:
Chef-de-Mission: Syed Nayyar Hasnain Haider. Manager: Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi.
Assistant coach: Muhammad Rasheed.
Goal-keeping Coach: Mohammad Afzal.
Physiotherapist: Dr Kamran Mehdi.
