Pakistani U14 team off to Tehran

IRNA - Pakistan's U14 team will be leaving for Tehran on Thursday to take part in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-14 Festival of Football (South Asia Region), officials said Wednesday.

Pakistan will be among nine participants along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and host Iran, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said.

The event will be held under Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) at Tehran's Shahid Bahonar Stadium from 10-23 May 2008.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)'s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has approved Karachi-born Abdul Waheed as skipper of the 22-player squad.

He also wrapped captain's arm band when U13 National team visited Bangladesh last year and put up high-spirit display, outplaying India 3-1, Maldives 6-0 and drew Iran 0-0.

Asad Irfan of Sialkot will act as deputy.

PFF had called 78 players from Sahiwal's 7th National U14 Festival of Football and Country-wide Open Trials, of which 61 reported at Punjab Stadium.

During the Short-listing Process, Nasir Ismail (Head Coach), Shahzad Anwar (coach) and Muhammad Aslam (GK Coach) checked the abilities of each player with tough training and several practice matches before announcing 24-player squad.