Lahore, 15 April: Lanky gloveman Muzammil Hussain, who missed the Pakistan-Malaysia Olympics Qualifier due to injury, is among the 27 players announced by WAPDA Sports Board’s Vice President Haji Khalid Mehmood. 8-Times National Champion WAPDA will show their style in 7th AFC President’s Cup (Group-C) at Nepal with matches against Nepal Police Club, Taiwan Power Company and Balkan at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium and Halchowk Stadium from 20-24 April 2011.
Shahkot-born 17 years old Muzammil Hussain, rated as one of the most upcoming keeper, is among the probables who won PPFL and National Games Gold for WAPDA last year. Muzammil, searched by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) AID-27 Financial Assistance Scheme Coach Muhammad Habib (Faisalabad), also won the Best GK award in 19th National U18 Championship 2007 at Model Town FC Ground, Lahore 2007 and 3rd National U21 Championship at Islamabad and 20th National U19 Championship 2009 at Punjab Stadium, Lahore two years later.
Arif Mehmood, only Pakistani to score hat-trick in SAFF championship, is also in the squad and it will fourth visit for him in the annual event after Nepal 2005, Malaysia 2008 and Nepal/Tajikistan 2009. Arif have also scored four of WAPDA’s ten goals in previous three spells, other scorers being Zulfiqar Ali Shah 2, Imran Niazi, Naveed Akram, Khuda Bakhsh and Mehmood Ali. The only Pakistani scorer Muhammad Tauseef in Pakistan-Palestine Series and Olympic skipper Jadeed Khan are also in the squad for their first AFC President’s Cup.
Goal keepers (4) : Abdul Aziz, Muzammil Hussain, Rao Yamin, Basit Ghafoor
Defenders (8) : Muhammad Ahmed, Akram Masih, Muhammad Asif, Naveed Akram, Muzaffar Ali, Rana Fakhar Hayat, Manzoor Ahmed, Muhammad Shahid
Midfielders (7) : Mehmood Ali, Syed Arif Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Zain Ullah, Muhammad Tauseef, Shahid Mehmood, Ayaz Baloch
Strikers (8) : Imran Niazi, Qamar Zaman, Arif Mehmood, Khuda Bakhsh, Jadeed Khan, Muhammad Afzal, Zeeshan Javed, Ghulam Abbas
Officials : Munawar Ahmed Malik ( manager), Khalid Butt (Coach), Qasim Raza, Muhammad Ayaz (Assistant Coaches), Saif Ullah Khan (GK Coach) , Muhammad Mohsin (Physio), Mumtaz Riaz (PRO), Ch. Shahid Iqbal (Equipment)