KARACHI, Nov 8: Pakistan football officials, already racing against time to prepare for this month’s World Cup pre-qualifying home game against Kyrgyzstan, face yet another challenge after being asked to host the away match.
The secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Arshad Lodhi, said the pre-qualifying away match which was to be played in Kyrgyzstan, would now be played in Pakistan because of harsh weather conditions in the former Soviet Union state.
“The Kirghiz football officials have asked us to host the away match too because of harsh winters and heavy snow in Kyrgyzstan. The match will probably be played on Dec 3 or 4,” the official said on Saturday.
Although the Kirghiz officials wanted to play the second game in Karachi, Arshad said it would most probably be played at another city after insistence of some Pakistani officials.
However, the PFF secretary said the federation would have to play both the matches before Dec 6 since it was the last date to submit the results to FIFA following which groups would be formed for the qualifying round.
But at the moment, PFF officials are still waiting for the probables since so far only three players have reached the Steel Mills football ground.
“Only three players from PTCL are present at the training camp. I think more will report tomorrow. I have been intimated by the PFF on Nov 5 to go to Karachi for the selection,” chief selector Col Yunus Changezi said.
The camp was scheduled to start from Nov 6, while the training is scheduled to begin from Nov 10, but Yunus said he would be forced to extend the date of the training camp if the situation remained the same.
However, when asked about the number of probables at the camp, Arshad expressed ignorance, saying “I don’t know how many players have reached, but more are expected on Sunday.”
“The programme will run according to the plan and there will be no change in it. The players will report and trials will be held on Nov 10,” the official said.
Asked about the date for the home game, the secretary said, Kyrgyzstan had given the PFF option to host it either on Nov 28 or 29. “I have proposed the officials in Karachi responsible for the preparation for the game it should be played on Nov 29.”
The preparations for the all-important game which should have started months ago just kicked off with the home game barely three weeks away.
The whole affair seemed to be result of indifference of the past or present PFF officials towards the sport or lack of communication between the Pakistani and Kirghiz officials.