Denmark-based goal keeper Yousuf Butt joined three domestic goal keepers in selection-trial-cum-coaching camp here at the Model Town Football Academy, located at Model Town C & D Block, Lahore. The camp has been organised for building up of the Pakistan Youth team to tour Thailand and appear in the 2012 Olympic Football Asian Qualifying Tournament.
Pakistan have been pitted against Malaysia with the first leg to be played in Kuala Lumpur on 23 February 2011 and the return leg in Pakistan on 9 March 2011. "While they are citizens of various European countries, the players are eligible to wear colour of Pakistan because of their family heritage" said Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)'s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat who had approved several expatriates from 2005 to 2010 for Pakistan team in international arena.
"The availability of foreign players is broadening our base and opening doors to Pakistanis around the world who want to play football. We also want to boost PPFL, PFF League with foreign players and, above all, improve national squad. We are taking seriously the coming Olympics Qualifiers where our Youth team will go all out. Several talented players of Pakistan origin are living abroad and we are well prepared to utilise their skill for our future challenges. We will continue to dig out football players of Pakistani heritage for the betterment of Pakistani soccer," assured Faisal.
The Denmark Series is the fourth tier of football in Denmark, after Superliga, Division One and Two - all four levels are governed by the Danish Football Association. Formerly of Copenhagen's Hellerup Idræts Klub (HIK), Yousuf 's Birkerod kept leadership in Denmark Series (Pool One) with 29 points in 13 matches, followed by Avedøre and Øresund. Birkerod conceded only ten goals in 13 games winning nine of them including 16 October 2010 clash when he played against his elder brother Yaqoob's Jægersborg and won 3-0. The remaining thirteen encounters will be played from 2 April to 18 June 2011 with 28 May is the return leg date of match between clubs of brothers.
Yousuf was eagerly-awaited in the camp as knee injury had already forced out Naiman Khan of Agrupacion Deportiva Pablo Iglesias (ADPI) Rivas, Madrid (Spain) with doctor advising him at least twelve weeks rest. "The inclusion of Yousuf enhanced the GK strength to four with Amir Gul (NBP), second choice keeper after Jaffar Khan in 16th Asian Games last year, Saqib Hanif (PEL) and Muhammad Omer (KESC), said coach Tariq Lutfi who added "I believe we need these expatriates not because I don't trust the local talent but because of the experience these players bring with them. The home-grown players are more enthusiastic now and have shown improvement after arrival of Naiman Khan, Irfan Khan and Yousuf Butt. No one can deny the fact that having had a good base in terms of training and grooming, these foreigners are very disciplined and hardworking. They sure have the right temperament to play and they make fine team members," he added.