Press Release

Pakistan U23 football team is leaving for Sri Lanka on Saturday, December 1, 2012, through WY 328 at 1310 Hours PST from Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore to take part in H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Tournament from 3^rd to 9^th Decmber-2012 at Nawalapitiya, Jayathilaka Stadium-Sri Lanka. This exposure of the U23 National team will help to develop its U23 squad for participation in South Asian Games likely to be organized in September, 2013.

According to the press release issued here by PFF, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, President PFF wished all out success for the national team. He hoped they shall play in an outstanding manner as the peoples of Pakistan are looking for a victory by their players. He expressed his satisfaction on their training and the ability to play well.

The detail of national football team contingents are as follows: Kaleem Ullah (Striker/Captain), Faisal Iqbal (MF/Vice Captain(i)), Saddam Hussain (DF/Vice Captain (ii)), Saqib Hanif, Jahangir Khan and Muzamil Hussain are Goalkeepers, Naveed Ahmed, Mohsin Ali, Ahsan Ullah, Ghulam Fareed, Mohammad Hamid, Mohammad Salman are Defenders, Sher Mohammad, Mohammad Adil, Zia-us-Salam, Bilawal Rehman, Hasnain Abbas, Mehmood Khan are MF, Zakir Lashari and Saeed Ahmed are Strikers.

The officials of the national team are: Milosavljevic Zavisa (Head Coach/Team Manager), Shahzad Anwar (Assistant Coach), Mohammad Aslam Khan (Goal Keeper Coach) and Kamran Mehdi (Physio/Assistant Manager).

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to compete four nations Football Tournament for H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa International Football Trophy to be held in Sri Lanka from 3rd December to 9th December at Nawalapitiya, Jayathilaka Stadium. There will be two matches every other day commencing from December 3 where Sri Lanka will play against Maldives in the opening match. The Pakistan will open their mission on December 3 with the match against Bangladesh at 1530 Hours PST (1600 Hours SST), followed by their games against Maldives at 1330 Hours PST (1400 Hours SST) on December 5 and against Sri Lanka at 1530 Hours PST (1600 Hours SST) on December 7, 2012. The final will be played on December 9, 2012 between Group Winner and Group Runner Up at 1500 Hours PST (1530 Hours SST)      

The tournament H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy is organized collaboratively by the Ministry of Sports in Sri Lanka and National Football Federation of Sri Lanka.

  Agha Muhammad Ajmal

Media Manager

Pakistan Football Federation

Cell # +92-301-4499578