LAHORE, Nov 23: Pakistan soccer coach Jozef Herel has expressed concern over the poor facilities from the national football federation, suggesting to it, to follow the likes of South Korea and Japan if it wanted the team to improve.

In a technical report presented to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Mian Mohammad Azhar, the coach pointed out towards what he claimed poor facilities during the training camps in Islamabad.

He stated the rooms were not air-conditioned, while the food provided to the probables was not as nutritious as it should be.

“The players need more meat, vegetables, fruits, vitamins and energising drinks every day. If we want to bring our level of football up in Pakistan.” Herel suggested.

The coach said fake documents for determining the age of the players was also a cause of concern.

“I am facing the problem with actual age of players in Pakistan because the departments are sending to the national camps the players with fake documents which is very big problem and it is very bad for national team.”

He suggested to take disciplinary action against the departments and associations for sending players with fake documents.

According to Herel he had called 33 players for the training camp for the Asiad but only 27 reported. As the tournament was U- 23 he had to select the players U-23 only and four over age as per rules of the contest.

“I had to take X-ray tests of each player and according to the results dropped five players who were overage according to the bone test. Then final number of the players after one week was 22.

Herel has also complained for providing less opportunities to the national team for practising.

“I had only nine weeks to prepare the team for the Asian Games. The PFF refused the 14-day domestic tour from Aug 20 and a tour abroad was also postponed at the eleventh hour,” he said.

He said the players did not practice at home or at their clubs and they do not play in tournament before joining the camp. Under these circumstances, he said, nine week time was insufficient to raise the standard of the team’s fitness, skills, technical aspects and tactics.

Herel said, though, his side won the 11 practice matches before the Asiad, the weakness in defence and attack could not be determined as the oppositions were too weak.

He said Pakistan squad went to the Asian Games just three day before the event started, while other participants were there before one week.

He recommended to start domestic league as he said apart from Pakistan, Afghanistan is the only country in Asia which doesn’t have league. He urged PFF to arrange matches abroad or at home.

“Better communications and close cooperation between PFF and coaches is needed. We have to prepare very soon our short and long-term programmes, new youth development programme, and league system for 2003. We must send our programme to AFC and ask it for its to support. This is the only way to keep bring the level of football in Pakistan up.”