Lahore, 17 Feb: Pakistan aim to get another good result when they will play their fourth warm up match of Thailand Tour on Friday, 18 February (4 PM local time) against Thai Division One League team Air Force United at Rangsit‘s Thupatemee Stadium.
Air Force United have been one of the most successful Thai football teams winning silverware when they won the FA Cup back in 2001.“The team completed three warm up matches and is improving with the passage of time and I am hopeful that a fully prepared lot will be fielded against Malaysia Olympians in the Shah Alam’s Olympic clash on Wednesday, 23 February,” said Tariq Lutfi, having second ever visit to Thailand as a Pakistani team coach. He was also coach during 1992 when Zia Sibtain-led Pakistan U16 team played Bangkok’s Coca Cola U16 Cup. Zia is brother of former Pakistan hockey team captain Muhammad Saqlain.
“We played the three matches beautifully against Thai oppositions so far and this makes the players feel confident. I feel more and more confident that we will reach our goal. I am confident that our players will give their all. We are not the underdogs to any team,” he said.
My U21 boys are aiming to get a satisfactory result against AirForce too on Friday afternooon after playing three warm up games in an attempt to cement a good show, like we did against Singapore four years ago, against Malaysia U21 who currently is playing Malaysian Super League and brimming with confidence. Air Force match will be another and last test for our boys in Thai Tour.”
It will be confrontation between Tariq Lutfi and Songserm Maperm as coaches at 20,000 capacity-Thupatermee Stadium. Pakistan U21 team is currently under preparation at National Training Field of Nong Jok and completed eleven days of their Camp at Thailand. The match against Air Force will be tough as the team is comprised of home-grown players plus professionals from Ghana, Ivory Coast, USA, Cameroon.
The Thailand-based Camp will run until 20 February 2011 at the same Nong Jok venue and Pakistan Olympic team will headed off for Malaysia on 21 February (1 PM) through Thai Airways TG 417 flight from Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi.
Following are two teams:
Pakistan U21 Team
Goal keepers: Yousof Ejaz Butt (Birkerod IF Skjold, Denmark), Amir Gul (NBP), Muhammad Omar (KESC)
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)
Air Force United : Thailand
Goal Keepers: Tosapol Imsap, Devala Gorrick (USA)
Defenders: Thaweesap Srilao, Parinya Saenkhammuen, Apinan Suanthong, Noumi Wilfied Cyrill (Cameroon), Siriwat Chotewecharak, Sihasak Arjharn
Midfielders: Aiyarak Chomdeang , Wanthawut Wangprasert, Yuttana Jongn, Sihasak Arjharn, Punnawat Inpho
Strikers :Alexander Acqaye (Ghana), Kouassi Yao Hermann (Ivory Coast), Rapepat Nakphet