PFF names 46 probables for Asian Games Socce

LAHORE Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has approved 46 probables in the provisional squad submitted to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for participation in the coming Asian Games. The OCA are running multi-sport event since 1982 after the dissolved of Asian Games Federation. The eight-day conditioning camp concluded at Lahores Model Town Football Academy Ground with PFF Youth Development Director Muhammad Siddiq Sheikh, coach Akhtar Mohiuddin, Assistant Coaches Hassan Baloch, Asghar Khan Anjum and GK Coach Noman Ibrahim in attendance. The full-fledged National U23 camp will get underway on September 18, immediately after the Eid. The Asian Games will be held at Chinese city Guangzhou from 12-27 November 2010. The final 20-man squad is to be announced later by the coach Mohiuddin after the four-week foreign training camp. Chaman-born Akhtar has the option to make changes to those injured and the replacements do not need to be from the original 46. The camp will be comprised of five goal keepers, 14 defenders, 15 midfielders and 12 strikers. The PFF has called eight foreign-based players: Shabir Khan (Worchester City - England), Atif Bashir (Barry Town - Wales), Amjad Iqbal (Worcester City - England), Bilal Butt (Brentford Club - England), Reis Ashraf (Buckingham Town- England), Adnan Farooq Ahmed (Ferencvrosi Torna Club- Hungary), Steven and Aneel Azeem (Ash United-England) who are currently playing European Leagues in different countries. It will be eighth trip to Asian Games for Pakistan who appeared in seven editions out of 15 so far in Manila 1954, Tokyo 1958, Tehran 1974, Seoul 1986, Beijing 1990, Busan 2002, Doha 2006. They missed the soccer event of quadrennial Games eight times at New Delhi 1951,1982 Jakarta 1962, Bangkok 1966,1970, 1978, 1998, Hiroshima 1994. We have picked the best available players for the Asian Games, said Mohiuddin who guided Pakistan to scoreless draw against Asian Champs Iraq at Syria three years ago during World cup Qualifier. Forty-six probables named in Asian Games Preliminary squad Goal Keepers (5) : Amir Gul, Muzammil Hussain, Jaffar Khan, Saqib Hanif, Jehangir Khan Defenders (14): Haider Ali, Manzoor Ahmed, Umer Farooq, Samar Ishaq, Shabir Khan (Worchester City), Atif Bashir (Barry Town) , Ahsan Ullah, Ghazanfar Abbas, Orangzaib, Ali Ehsan, Muhammad Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal (Worcester City), Abdul Jabbar, Bilal Butt (Brentford Club), Midfielders (15): Reis Ashraf (Buckingham Town), Jadeed Khan, Mehmood Khan Jr, Adnan Farooq (Ferencvrosi Torna Club), Saad Ullah, Adil, Muhammad Tauseef, Abbas Ali, Faisal Iqbal, Zubair, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Rashid, Yasir Afridi, Asif Bakhsh, Steven Strikers (12): Kalim Ullah Khan, Muhammad Essa Khan, Asif Mehmood, Rizwan Asif, Saddam Hussain, Asim Mansoor, Zain Ullah, Shah Noor Abbasi, Arif Mehmood, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Rasool, Aneel Azeem (Ash United).

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