Indo-Pak football series in India next month: PFF

[Saifullah Sani]

India and Pakistan will play a bilateral football series in the former's den next month, the PFF said on Wednesday.

The bilateral series will be the first between the two countries after a gap of nine years.

"The Pakistan team will visit India from August 16 to 21 and play matches on the 17th and 20th," Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Colonel Ahmed Yar Lodhi said.

"It is a big step forward for sporting relations between the two countries and also for Pakistan football because India is more developed in this sport than us," he said.

"The good thing is that India is also keen to play against us and agreed to this series.

"The last time the two countries were involved in a bilateral series was in 2005 which Pakistan won on goal average. This series can be considered as a return visit by Pakistan to India," Lodhi added

Asked about plans to host bilateral matches with India in England with the support of international sponsors, Lodhi said the project was close to finalisation but the sponsors backed out at the last moment.

"The same fate met us when we planned a triangular football series in England last year with India and Bangladesh," he said.

"Pakistan will also be playing a series against Bahrain from August 22 to 30 there, which shows that the PFF is doing its best for the game."

Lodhi said Pakistan would also host the first ever SAARC Women's Football Championship in September this year.

Lodhi made it clear that the planned series in August was obviously subject to clearance from the respective governments.

"But the federations are on board now," he said.

Indo-Pak football series in India next month: PFF - The Times of India

 

[Secur]

Whats the lineup?

 

[Strigon]

Haha wow that should be exciting...If any type of aggression we should look forward to b/w India and Pak, it should be sports rivalry. Always worth the money and time.

 

[Abhishek_]

Haha wow that should be exciting...If any type of aggression we should look forward to b/w India and Pak, it should be sports rivalry. Always worth the money and time.

hear hear

 

[third eye]

Pakistan to play football series against India after nine years - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: Like the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is making all-out efforts for the revival of cricketing ties with India, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has succeeded in finalising a two-match bilateral series scheduled to be held in August after a gap of nine years.

The Pakistan team will visit India from August 16 to 21 and play matches on August 17 and 20. Talking to APP on Wednesday, PFF's Secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said the series would prove to be a landmark in the sports relations of the two countries.

“Pakistan and India last played a three-match series here in June 2005 which was won by us on goal-average,” he said adding the upcoming series was a return series.

It may be mentioned that in 2011 an English company planned a football series between Pakistan and India in England but it was cancelled at the eleventh hour due to failure in getting sponsorship.

In 2013, a triangular series in England, involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh was cancelled because of the same problem.

Lodhi said the series was being held after nine years, which showed that India too was eager to play against Pakistan for the betterment of game. An Indo-Pak clash was not lesser than the Ashes, he added.

“Pakistan will also be playing a series against Bahrain from August 22 to 30 there, which shows that the PFF is doing its best for the game and to give exposure to the players,” he said.

Lodhi said Pakistan would also host the first ever SAARC Women Football Championship.

Dilating on the difficulties faced by the PFF in promoting the game, Lodhi said,” We are still using equipment and other stuff that was used 100 years ago. Now the game of football has become very fast and in order to keep pace with it, we need money.

 

[third eye]

Pakistan footballers rooting for India series – The Express Tribune

KARACHI: Pakistan midfielder Saddam Hussain said he is looking forward to the team’s clash against their archrivals next month in India.

The series will see two matches on August 16 and August 21,

“Despite the rest period from the national camp, it is mandatory for every player to keep practicing,” Hussain told The Express Tribune.

“Having a break from the camp doesn’t mean it’s a holiday.

“The national camp will resume in August, but I need to be confident that I’m 100% ready to take on the challenge. India is a tough side on their home ground.

“I just want to make sure that I’ve done everything so that I can play my best for the team.

Hussain added that given the two sides’ traditional rivalry, the national team will go the extra mile while playing against India.

Pakistan last faced India in the South Asian Football Federation Championship in Nepal last year, where they lost 1-0.

Hussain emphasised that football is about investing time in understanding the game and practicing.

“If players don’t keep their fitness in check during the month-long break from the camp, it can spell disaster. I practice in the field for two hours before Iftar and train in the gym for another one-and-a-half-hour afterwards.”

He added that he will be excited to play with FC Dordoi duo Kaleemullah and Mohammad Adil again.

“We have a young side, the oldest player is 24 years old. Coach Mohamed Shamlan is trying his best to get us ready in time.”

Teenager Mansoor Khan, who will be playing against India for the first time as a part of the national side, said that he is also training in Mardan.

“I’m putting extra effort during the break, because it’s India. It’s a different state of mind altogether,” said Mansoor.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Football Federation Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said that the national camp for the series will begin on August 5 in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2014.