Lahore, 16 Feb: Most-capped Pakistan skipper Haroon Yousaf, National Games Gold medallist 19 years ago at Lahore, became the head coach of PMC Athletico Club Faisalabad U13 Football team for coming 13th National U13 Festival of Football. Haroon, completed AFC C-Certificate Football Coaching Course from Ardeshir Pournemat (Iran) at Lahore, November 2009, is the current captain of PMC.
Son of Muhammad Yousaf, born at Mandi Bahauddin on 10 November 1973, he was skipper of Pakistan during 4th SAFF Championship, 8th SA Games 1999, 12th Asian Cup 2000, Tour of England (matches against Bury, Coventry City), 17th World Cup QR 2001, Asian Games Busan 2002, 5th SAFF Championship, 13th Asian Cup 2003. The versatile footballer was Vice Captain from 1996 till 1999. He played as a defender or midfielder for Pakistan and he is among two players in Pakistan who wore captain’s arm band for National and Olympic Team.
Haroon made international debut on 18 August 1992 at Amman against Moldova during 1st Jordan Football Tournament, followed by high profile events like World Cup QR, 6th SAF Games, Ist SAFF Championship in 1993
2nd SAFF Championship 1995, Asian Cup QR 1996, World Cup QR, 3rd SAFF Championship 1997. His first age-goup international event was 28th AFC U19 Championship 1992 in Kannur, India followed by Atlanta Olympic QR 1995 as skipper. He also played 11th Asian Club Championship 1991 for WAPDA and 13th Asian Club Championship 1993 for Defence FC.
He started soccer from hometown’s Allah o Akbar Club and later on played momentarily for Lahore’s City Club, Defence Club, PTCL, PIA, followed by Pakistan Railways 1990, WAPDA 1991-95 and ABL 1995-2004. Haroon was star of Allied Bank Limited Football team when they won the National Championship thrice in 1997, 1999, 2000 (Infact, he earned four golds in National Championship being winner with WAPDA in 1991) and National Football Challenge Cup (NFCC) four times from 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
PMC kept themselves alive for their fifth seasons which says a lot in terms of Club culture in Pakistan, it shows that club is toe to toe with Pakistan Power Houses. Despite many of PMC’s talent being poached by WAPDA, PAF, NBP, PIA, Bhatti’s privately owned PMC Athletico still unearthed immense talent from across Faisalabad District to keep fighting in Pakistan’s No.1 football fiesta. Haroon scored vital goals for PMC in PPFL: six in 2008, two in 2009 and 8 in 2010.
To make sure the best young talent is scouted and selected from the region for the U-13 festival the club organized three-way open trials. According to Club’s President Saif Ur Rehman Bhatti, PMC U13 team will be comprised of former Pakistani coach Haroon Yousaf as Head Coach and Farrukh Gill as Assistant Coach while Muhammad Sarfraz has been appointed as manager of the team.