"Overseas players Altaf Ahmed, Zeeshan Rehman, Adnan Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal played their part brilliantly when we forced the Asian Powerhouse and Asian Champion Iraq scoreless draw at Damascus in 19th World Cup Qualifier three years ago. The credit to motivate expatriates to represent Pakistan goes to Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)'s President Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat who is making all out efforts for the uplift of soccer in Pakistan."
This was stated by Akhtar Mohiuddin, the head coach of National U-23 team which appear in soccer event of XVI Asian Games to be held under Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at Chinese city Guangzhou from 12-27 November 2010. The camp is in progress at Lahore's Punjab Stadium and Model Town Football Academy Ground.
Chaman-born Akhtar said: "Overseas football players of Pakistan origin are showing willingness to play for their country and it will help further in promoting the game besides motivating the youth to take up soccer as a sport. Pakistan soccer has become a source of interest for foreign players and for this very reason European-born Usman Gondal, Zeshan Rehman represented national team in 2005, followed by Kashif Siddiqi who played for Pakistan Olympic team in 2007."
Austria-born coach George Kottan was instrumental in giving Pakistani jerseys to Shabir Khan (Worcester City FC) and Reis Ashraf (Leamington FC) in 2009 when they wore Pakistan colour in SAFF Championship 2009 along with other European-based players Amjad Iqbal, Atif Bashir and Adnan Ahmed.
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