SPORTS WORLD: Pakistan create history in Under-23 South Asian Games soccer: four gold medals in a row

Pakistan became the most successful team in the 22-year history of South Asian Games soccer when they won the gold medal for the fourth time in the Under-23 10th South Asian Games, beating hosts Sri Lanka 1-0.
Pakistan's success indicates the green shirters' courage, exuberant and stamina and above all untiring efforts of Bahraini trainer Salman Ahmed Sharida, who coached the team and prepared the boys to form an effective back-up for the national team.
Sri Lanka were not a frail opponent, but Pakistan, who defeated Sri Lanka 4-0 in the first SAFF Championship played in Lahore 13 years ago, entered the biennial tournament with the determination to defeat their hosts on their soil. This was the second gold Pakistan have won on the foreign soil after 1991 triumph at the same venue.
Earlier last year Pakistan annexed the sixth SAFF Championship, trouncing the strong Lanka outfit in Lahore. Credit for these victories goes to coach Salman, who helped Pakistan to improve their ranking in the soccer world.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, congratulating the team on winning the gold for the fourth time, expressed the hope the boys would continue their spirited fashion in future as well.
BACKBONE OF SENIOR TEAM:
He was confident that the Under-23 players of the current squad would become the backbone of the national team to challenge the highly-ranked outfits of Asia in future.
Despite getting less number of rest days, Pakistan played superbly as a well-oiled machine, he said, and observed that the team under the Bahraini trainer has won the hearts of soccer fans back home.
With the success of Pakistan Under-23 team in the South Asian Games, it is hoped that the PFF will continue to patronise the most neglected game in the country. Since there is no dearth of talent in the country, the PFF should, therefore, launch talent hunt schemes, organise tournaments at the district, regional and provincial levels, which will help the PFF to unearth the hidden talent.
According to insiders, the PFF is also providing financial support to the deserving young footballers with a view to introducing professionalism in the game.
This is a welcome move and it will certainly help attract young players towards the game, and the PFF bosses should keep in mind that soccer will prosper in the country only if they help the young footballers get jobs in Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), banks and other organisations having their own teams.
FIFA, AFC FACILITIES:
Besides, the PFF should cash in on the facilities, being provided by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which are striving to promote football in South Asia in general and Pakistan in particular.
The FIFA has provided its high profile German coaching instructor Holger Obermann to the PFF to help revive football activities in the earthquake-hit areas.
Holger, the 64-year old coach from German Football Association DFB, has worked in more than 23 countries like Malaysia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, and will be conducting coaching clinics in Muzaffarabad, Islamabad, Abbottabad and Lahore.
Football, the most popular sport in the earthquake-affected areas, and the visit of legendary coach like Hoger will definitely bring football to its right place in these areas.
FIFA has also promised to build academies and technical centres in the earthquake-affected areas.
It seems the PFF has taken positive steps to remove obstacles, which hampered the promotion of football in the country. The PFF President, who is also keen to popularise the game among women, said soon after taking over in August 2003, it was beyond his imagination to see female footballers in action, but now continued efforts paid off and women football has become a reality. The PFF chief further said: " President General Pervez Musharraf is a great supporter of women sports and he appreciated the PFF's effort for encouraging women footballers."
During the last three years, the PFF successfully organised women football championships, besides inviting Indian women's team to play a series of the tournaments. Now the PFF plans to organise Asian women championship, opening the door for other Islamic countries to start women football in their countries. In its efforts, the PFF is being provided technical assistance by the FIFA.
It is hoped that Pakistan will build a strong national women team by 2007 to compete in 16th edition of Asian women championship. National Soccer 2006.