LAHORE – Pakistan will field its U21 squad against Palestine in the match to be played tomorrow in Lahore, the first of the four-match bilateral series. Punjab Stadium will host the match at 7 PM. The Jadeed Khan-led team lost 2-0 to Malaysia in 2012 London Olympic Games first round qualifier in the first-leg clash at the Shah Alam Stadium last Wednesday. Pakistani coach Tariq Lutfi said: “Palestine’s players play in the West Bank Premier League; it is a good team despite the fact that they are placed at 178 in the FIFA rankings, below Pakistan’s 173.
I plan to go with the U21 boys in order to make them ready for the second leg as well as the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers, where several national team players will join us in the camp.”
“It’s a historical series for which I am thankful to PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat Palestinian Football Association (PFA)’s President Al Rajoub Jibril. I believe that our youngsters will learn a lot from it ahead of the vital showdown against Malaysia,” added Tariq. Tariq said goalie Omar will be his first choice on Tuesday. “No doubt Yousuf Butt is technically sound, but if one is not fully committed, then it affects one’s performance.
If he really wants to grow, he must show the commitment and spirit needed for an international match. We changed Yousuf at Shah Alam stadia, bringing in Omar in the second half, and he was really impressive on his international U21 debut,” said Tariq.
PAKISTAN, PALESTINE SQUADS ANNOUNCED: The coaches of Pakistan and Palestine football teams have announced their squads for the clash on Tuesday, March 1 at Punjab Stadium, Lahore (7 PM). Mian Rizwan Ali will be Match Commissioner for Lahore tie, while Qazi Mohammad Asif will be Referee Assessor, Khurram Shahzad (Kohat) will supervise the match with Muhammad Ali Junior, Shafaat Habib as Assistant Referees, and Waheed Murad will be the fourth Official.
Teams: PAKISTAN: Goal keepers: Muhammad Omar (KESC), Yousof Ejaz Butt (Birkerod IF Skjold, Denmark), Amir Gul (NBP) Defenders: Manzoor Ahmed (WAPDA), Alamgir Khan (Police), Ahsan Ullah (PEL), Obaid Majeed (KPT), Ansar Abbas (Army), Midfielders: Faisal Iqbal (NBP), Syed Arif Hussain (WAPDA), Muhammad Tauseef (WAPDA), Muhammad Adil (KRL), Mahmood Khan (KRL), Irfan Khan (Bradford Park Avenue Association Football Club, England), Strikers:
Saddam Hussain (PIA), Fahad Ullah Khan (PTV), Jadeed Khan Pathan (WAPDA) CAP, Rizwan Asif (KRL), Kalim Ullah ( KRL), PALESTINE: Goalkeepers (3): Mohammed Shbair (Shabab Al-Khalil), Abdullah Saidawi CAP (Hilal Al-Quds), Saed Abu Sleem (Markaz Balatah), Defenders (5): Ahmed Harbi Mahajna (Markaz Shabab Al-Am’ari) Mohammed Al-Masri (Shabab Al-Thahriyeh), Khaled Mahdi (Markaz Shabab Al-Am’ari), Samer Hijazi (Jabal Al-Mokaber), Husam Abu Saleh (Hilal Al-Quds), Midfielders (9):
Ayman Alhendi (Shabab Al-Khalil), Houssam Wadi ( Jabal Al-Mokaber), Murad Said (Hilal Al-Quds) Suleiman Obeid (Markaz Shabab Al-Am’ari), Hesham Salhe (Hilal Al-Quds), Khader Yousef (Wadi Al-Neiss) Ashraf Alfawaghra (Wadi Al-Neiss), Atef Abu Bilal (Shabab Al-Thahriyeh), Ismail Amour (Jabal Al-Mokaber), Strikers (4): Mohammed Jebreen (Shabab Al-Bireh), Mohammed Shatrit (Shabab Al-Khalil), Eyad Abugharqud (Markaz Shabab Al-Am’ari), Jamal Allan (Hilal Al-Quds).
