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Jaffar optimistic about Army’s chances in AFC President’s Cup
By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: The skipper of reigning national football champions Army, Jaffar Khan is optimistic that his team will qualify for the final of the 3rd AFC President’s Cup to be held at Lahore from May 17-27.
During a formal chat with ‘The News’ on Friday, the leading goalkeeper of Pakistan said, his team is well prepared to compete with its foreign opponents in the forthcoming international football event being played under the aegis of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
“We have a few good players in the squad in the shape of midfielder Mubashir Hussain, front-liners Fahim Riaz, Imran Hussain, Adnan Bari and defender Muhammad Imran, who also play in the Pakistan senior side,” Jaffar said.
The DI Khan born Jaffar, who led his team to the PFF Premier League title and the gold medal for the third consecutive time in the National Games added, “Army have the experience of playing in the previous edition of the championship held in Malaysia in 2006 and the team has learnt a lot from it. We are anxiously waiting for the coming edition.”
To a question, the former captain of the Pakistan football team said, “We are passing through hard training sessions, both in the morning and evening times at the Army Stadium, Rawalpindi in order to remain fit for the crucial fair. It’s the best chance for Army to make full use of home conditions and play in the final.”
Shaukat Ali with Muhammad Fayyaz assisting him in his duties is coaching the Army squad. Major Shafqat will serve as manager of the team in the forthcoming event.
Army first appeared in the previous edition of the AFC President’s Cup held at Malaysia last year. They lost to Tatung of Chinese Taipei 1-4 and Transport United of Bhutan by 0-1. However, against Khemara Club from Cambodia, Army earned a 1-1 draw to earn a respectable finish in the tournament.
It is pertinent to mention here that in this international fair, the national champions from eight Asian countries are participating. Dordoi Dynamo are the defending champions of the tournament.
These eight teams have been placed in two different pools. Pool-A has Transport United (Bhutan), Army (Pakistan), Ratnam Sports Club (Sri Lanka) and Regar Tadaz (Tajikistan) while Pool-B has Khemara (Cambodia), Dordoi Dynamo (Kyrgyztan), Mahindra Police Club (Nepal) and Tantung (Chinese Taipei).
A total of 15 matches will be played in the event, in which 13 will be held at Punjab Stadium Lahore while two encounters will be conducted at the WAPDA Sports Complex.
The schedule is: Army vs Ratnam Sports Club, Transport United vs Regar Tadaz (May 17); Dordoi Dynamo vs Khemara, Mahindra Police vs Tatung (May 1; Regar Tadaz vs Army, Ratnam Sports Club vs Transport United (May 19); Tatung vs Khemara, Dordoi Dynamo vs Mahindra Police (May 20); Transport United vs Army, Ratnam Sports Club v Regar Tadaz (May 21); Mahindra Police Club vs Khemara, Tatung vs Dordoi Dynamo (May 22).
According to the format of the event, two leading teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played on May 24, while the final will be played on May 27.
Jaffar optimistic about Army’s chances in AFC President’s Cup
By Alam Zeb Safi
KARACHI: The skipper of reigning national football champions Army, Jaffar Khan is optimistic that his team will qualify for the final of the 3rd AFC President’s Cup to be held at Lahore from May 17-27.
During a formal chat with ‘The News’ on Friday, the leading goalkeeper of Pakistan said, his team is well prepared to compete with its foreign opponents in the forthcoming international football event being played under the aegis of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
“We have a few good players in the squad in the shape of midfielder Mubashir Hussain, front-liners Fahim Riaz, Imran Hussain, Adnan Bari and defender Muhammad Imran, who also play in the Pakistan senior side,” Jaffar said.
The DI Khan born Jaffar, who led his team to the PFF Premier League title and the gold medal for the third consecutive time in the National Games added, “Army have the experience of playing in the previous edition of the championship held in Malaysia in 2006 and the team has learnt a lot from it. We are anxiously waiting for the coming edition.”
To a question, the former captain of the Pakistan football team said, “We are passing through hard training sessions, both in the morning and evening times at the Army Stadium, Rawalpindi in order to remain fit for the crucial fair. It’s the best chance for Army to make full use of home conditions and play in the final.”
Shaukat Ali with Muhammad Fayyaz assisting him in his duties is coaching the Army squad. Major Shafqat will serve as manager of the team in the forthcoming event.
Army first appeared in the previous edition of the AFC President’s Cup held at Malaysia last year. They lost to Tatung of Chinese Taipei 1-4 and Transport United of Bhutan by 0-1. However, against Khemara Club from Cambodia, Army earned a 1-1 draw to earn a respectable finish in the tournament.
It is pertinent to mention here that in this international fair, the national champions from eight Asian countries are participating. Dordoi Dynamo are the defending champions of the tournament.
These eight teams have been placed in two different pools. Pool-A has Transport United (Bhutan), Army (Pakistan), Ratnam Sports Club (Sri Lanka) and Regar Tadaz (Tajikistan) while Pool-B has Khemara (Cambodia), Dordoi Dynamo (Kyrgyztan), Mahindra Police Club (Nepal) and Tantung (Chinese Taipei).
A total of 15 matches will be played in the event, in which 13 will be held at Punjab Stadium Lahore while two encounters will be conducted at the WAPDA Sports Complex.
The schedule is: Army vs Ratnam Sports Club, Transport United vs Regar Tadaz (May 17); Dordoi Dynamo vs Khemara, Mahindra Police vs Tatung (May 1; Regar Tadaz vs Army, Ratnam Sports Club vs Transport United (May 19); Tatung vs Khemara, Dordoi Dynamo vs Mahindra Police (May 20); Transport United vs Army, Ratnam Sports Club v Regar Tadaz (May 21); Mahindra Police Club vs Khemara, Tatung vs Dordoi Dynamo (May 22).
According to the format of the event, two leading teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played on May 24, while the final will be played on May 27.
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