Pakistan football captain, Jaffar Khan is confident of his team's success against India the football series which will commences from (Sunday). "We are ready for the challenge which is tough and demanding because in the given circumstances our opponents are also well prepared for the competition" he told APP from Quetta by telephone Saturday - Army's Jaffar takes over captainship from Wapda's Tanveer Ahead who led the side which finished' 9th Islamic Solidarity Games football tournament at Saudi Arabia in April last
"It is a new challenge for us which requires the best out of the players knowing the fact that Indian team is boosted with the inclusion of some experienced players," he asserted.
Jaffar said the home side would be displaying its best to live upto to its reputation. "We will be going all out to win the event but I cannot say that we are the favourites because we have yet to measure the strength of our opponents.
He welcomed the holding of first-ever Pakistan-India football series and said it would help in raising the overall standard of the game in both the countries besides. promoting goodwill and friendship.
"I believe it is a new beginning in football and the tourney should go on in the future as well with the frequent exchange of senior and junior teams and by that way football will be promoted in the region ,"he added.
Jaffar stressed the need to have bilateral football ties between Pakistan and India and also suggested that other teams of South Asia should also be involved in four- nation tournaments on the pattern of other sports.
The Pakistan football captain said fans across the country and the region are awaiting the start of the series which has its own importance 'as it will be telecast live in nearly 40 countries by a Dubai based TV channel.
There is a lot of interest at the public level in this event because never before both the teams played in such a series and I am confident that it would be an inspiration for the youth to take up football as a sports," he maintained.
Following are the team members:
GOALKEEPERS: Jaffar Khan (Army - Captain), Muhammad Shahrad (HBL), Mehmood Ahmed (Army).
DEFENDERS: Tanveer Ahmed (WAPDA). Mohammad Shahid (WAPDA), Yasir Sahir (PTCL) Naveed Akram (WAPDA) Ijaz Ahmed (Army) Mohammed Imran (Army) Mahmood Khan.
MIDFIEDLERS: Mohammad Zahid (Army), Zahid Hameed (WAPDA), Atiqur Rehman (KPL), Attiq Ulllah (NBP.) Abdul Nasir (Afghan Club, Chaman) (Strikers) Arif Mahmood (WAPDA), Imran Hussain (Army), Farooq Shah (NBP), Mohammad Essa (PTCL), Vice Captain Abdul Aziz (NBP), Shahid Ahmed (PTCL), Shabbir Hussain (Army).
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