National title holder and National Football Challenge Cup gold medallist Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) has announced its football squad for the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) 2010. According to In-charge KRL Sports Wing and former international defender Muhammad Ayaz Butt, the Rawalpindi-based soccer team will open their match on Saturday (today) against 1986 national champions Pakistan Air Force at Qayyum Sports Complex, Bara Road, Peshawar.
The Chaman-born winger Kaleem Ullah Khan, who struck both goals in 2-1 win over Cambodia's Naga Corp in 6th AFC President's Cup at Aung San Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar on 10 May 2010, and currently in the ongoing Pakistan U23 Team Camp for Asian Games, is among the 27-player KRL squad. Also, Safi Ullah Khan, born at NWFP's town Munda in Lower Dir, will be the front runner for KRL. The only player in Pakistan soccer history to score four goals in an international fixture, Safi also remained top scorer of KPT-PFF Cup early this year.
KRL signed deal with the Asian star that played for Pak Elektron Limited (PEL) in PPFL 2009. Safi rose to limelight when he finished as leading marksmen of third AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers alongwith Sri Lankan's spearhead Kasun Jayasuriya (Ratnam Sports FC). Other PEL players who have joined KRL are Jalil Ahmed, Abid Ghafoor and Muhammad Adil while some new faces will be Muhammad Asghar, Atif Mehmood and Shahid Nabi. Samar Ishaq will lead the team while Muhammad Qasim act as his deputy.
The team is comprised of four goal keepers Ghulam Nabi, Asim Khurshid, Atif Mehmood, Shahid Nabi and other players Safi Ullah Khan, Atiq Ur Rehman, Kaleem Ullah, Kamran Ahmed, Mehmood Khan, Mudassar Saeed, Muhammad Abid Khan, Luqman Amir, Razwan Asif, Muhammad Shahid (Faisalabad), Muhammad Zeeshan, Aseed Saeed, Shahid Ahmed (Quetta), Syed Ghazi Khan, Yasir Afridi, Zia Us Salam, Zubair Ahmed, Jalil Ahmed, Abid Ghafoor, Muhammad Adil, Muhammad Asghar, The officials will be Ayaz Butt (manager), Sajjad Mahmood Khan (Coach), Sajjad Hussain (Assistant Coach) and Umer Farooq (Assistant Manager).