LAHORE: Spain-based goalkeeper Naiman Khan reported to coach Tariq Lutfi in a selection-trial-cum-coaching camp which is in full swing at the famous Model Town Football Academy, Lahore.
Naiman who hails from Karachi, played for Agrupacion Deportiva Pablo Iglesias (ADPI) Rivas in Madrid, met the age restriction of the coming show that allowed only players born on or after 1 January 1989.
The inculsion of Naiman now means there are nine goalkeepers with Amir Gul (NBP), second choice keeper after Jaffar Khan in 16th Asian Games last year, and Saqib Hanif (PEL) were called on the recommendation of goalkeeping coach Aslam.
Lutfi, the only player in Pakistan football history to win all three League matches in the SAFF Championship eight years ago, added that 44 players reported in the National Camp that commenced on Monday in the build up for the Pakistan Youth team to appear in the 2012 Olympic football Asian qualifying tournament. The Camp will run until 4 February 2011 at the same venue.
“Besides goalkeepers Amir Gul, Basit Ghafoor, Ghulam Raza and Saqib Hanif, I have also asked outfield players Muhammad Usman (PEL), Akbar Hussain, Aoun Shah (WAPDA), and Muhammad Umer (Sahiwal) in the Camp to prove their mental tougness and fitness for coming assignment,” Lufti said.
The absentees from the Camp are Jadeed Khan, Manzoor Ahmed (WAPDA), Muhammad Riaz (KESC), Zakir Lashari (HBL), Abdul Jabbar (PIA) and Mudssar Waseem (PAF).
Pakistan have been pitted against Malaysia with the first leg to be played in Kuala Lumpur on 23 February 2011 and the return leg in Pakistan on 9 March 2011.
