SPORTS WORLD: Pakistan eyeing 4th win in South Asian Games football

Despite stepped up Tamil rebels attacks on Sri Lankan forces in the north-east region series of bomb attacks in Colombo, the Sri Lankan government has made elaborate arrangements to host the 10th South Asian Games Football tournament, a biannual event for the South Asian nations, from August 14.
Keeping in view the presence of an expected crowd of as many as 2,500 sportspersons from across South Asia, including Pakistan, fool-proof security arrangements have been made for the event being held in the island after 15 years.
According to reports, India would be sending 400 participants, Pakistan 350, Bangladesh 300 and Afghanistan 120, besides contestants from Nepal and the Maldives.
Sri Lankan Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeewan Kumaranatunga has said the region's biggest sporting event will go ahead as planned with security forces and police providing adequate protection for the participants, officials and spectators. Previously known as SAF Games, the event is considered South Asian version of the Olympics.
The tournament will start on August 14, coinciding with Pakistan's Independence Day. The three-time gold medallists, Pakistan will collide in their first match with hosts Sri Lanka and defend their title in the Under-23 event.
The event-toppers in 1989, 1991 and 2004, Pakistan are in Group- A alongside hosts Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan, while India, champions of 1985, 1987 and 1995 games, and 1999 winners Bangladesh are placed in Group-B with Afghanistan and two-times winners Nepal.
CLASH WITH OMAN: Prior to the Pakistan-Sri Lanka clash in the 10th South Asian Games on August 19, the green-shirters will clash with Oman on August 16 in the 14th Asian Cup qualifier at Islamabad's Jinnah Stadium. After the Islamabad event, the PFF selection committee will finalise the side.
Players born on or after January 1, 1983 will be eligible for selection for the Sri Lanka Under-23 soccer show. In the 2004 edition, held at Islamabad, Pakistan brushed aside India 1-0 to win gold. This was the first age-limit soccer event in 22-year history of these biennial games.
An eligibility committee, consisting of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officials, will check and confirm the nationality and age of the players. With the improvement in their FIFA ranking from 177th to 153rd and one of the world's best five teams, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Faisal Saleh Hayat is optimistic that Pakistan would win the event record fourth time.
"To appear in the SA Games soccer event is an honour for the nations, which is also a launching pad for footballers of the country," he said. The 14-day event in Sri Lanka will mark the celebration of Pakistan's Independence Day when in Group-A, India will take on Afghanistan, followed by Group-B's Maldives will meet Sri Lanka. The final will be played on August 27 after two semi-finals on August 25.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Meanwhile, the PFF has given a go-ahead signal to 12 teams for the forthcoming 52nd National Football Championship 2006 in September. Based on the performance, top 10 teams of the last year's 51st National Championship and top two teams of the fifth PFF Cup 2005.
Out of 132 matches of the forthcoming championship, 44 matches will be played in Karachi, 33 in Lahore and Rawalpindi each, and 11 matches will be played in Islamabad and Chaman each.
The PFF has adopted a three-tier system in domestic soccer. National Football Championship (Tier I) is named as Pakistan Premier League (PPL), while National Championship (Tier-II) is known as PFF Cup. Recently-introduced National Club Championship at Lahore is Tier-III event of PFF. The adoption of a three-tier system is aimed at raising the standard of the game in the country.
The winners of 52nd National Football Championship 2006 will play in the third AFC President Cup 2007 at Islamabad. Pakistan Wapda and Pakistan Army participated in last two editions of AFC President Cup played at Nepal and Malaysia by capturing title of 50th National Championship 2004 and 51st National Championship 2005 respectively.