Pakistan gearing up for AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

A file photo of the Pakistan football team.

Islamabad, Feb 6 (IANS) In their bid to prepare for the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers, Pakistan’s national football team will be playing international friendlies against Nepal and Maldives.

The 17-member team led by captain Jaffar Khan and four officials left for Nepal on Tuesday. The two friendlies against Nepal are slated for Jan 6 and Jan 9. Pakistan will then fly down to Male for two friendlies slated for Feb 12 and Feb 14, reports Xinhua.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat, on the eve of departure of the team, expressed his satisfaction over the side’s preparations.

“We are confident that our team will produce good results in the matches against Nepal and Maldives,” said Hayat.

Pakistan under the supervision of Serbian coach Milosavljevic Zavisa had a short training camp in Lahore from Jan 28.

Zavisa said the camp helped the team prepare for the Nepal and Maldives tour and also for the AFC Challenge Cup-2014 Qualifiers scheduled to be held in March, 2013 at Kyrgyzstan.

The Serbian coach told local media that the upcoming four matches against the two countries would also help him prepare a better side for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.

“The matches will definitely answer to our queries and will support us to build a better side for our main target of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers,” said Zavisa.