PFF to Conduct Trials for Oversees Pakistani Players
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan Football Federation will hold trials for selecting promising football players of Pakistan origin on July 29-30 at South Yorkshire, a metropolitan county of England.

“We are taking seriously the next year’s 11th South Asian Games where our U23 team will go all out for hat-tricks of gold, besides 7th SAFF Championship 2007 (SriLanka/Maldives) and Second AFC Challenge Cup 2008 (Chinese Taipei). Several talented players of Pakistan origin are living in European and South American Nations and we are well prepared to utilize their skill for our coming assignments in international soccer circuit”, said President, PFF on Friday.

He said PFF has taken the responsibility to unearth talented Pakistan football expatriate for the betterment of Pakistani soccer.

“The trials, first of their kind, is seen as an opportunity in identifying talent and skill amongst the British Asian and Pakistani origin youth and providing opportunity to present themselves as serious contenders for nomination towards playing in Pakistan’s domestic soccer and to represent various Pakistani teams.”

He said that dexterous players exists within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and this is an opportunity for them to disclose their capability and show off their flairs.

The Millmoor Ground will hold the trials and PFF asked coordinator Muhammad Aref to ensure maximum participation of players of various age-limits.

The PFF chief hoped that two-day trials would be successful in order to infuse fresh blood in Pakistan U19, Olympic and national team.

With keen interest and support of Rotherham United FC’s Chief Operating officer Paul Douglas and Asia Europe Sports Group’s Director Majid Lavji it is hoped to start a long-lasting beneficial relationship between PFF and Rotherham United FC.

The PFF has generated the soccer of Pakistan to such an extent that even Pakistani players, living abroad, are showing willingness to play for Pakistan. European-born Usman Gondal, Zeshan Rehman, Kashif Siddiqi represented Pakistani teams from 2005 to 2007 and more are in the pipeline.

The trials, under UK-based coaches, will be held over two days .The selection process will be held by the coaches and selected players on Sunday will be asked to attend further trials on Monday,” said Majid Lavji, Founder and Director of Asia Europe Sports Group.

Paul Douglas added : “A great opportunity to host and bring together the potential of skill and talent from within the Asian community and have exposure to witness what’s out there.”●