LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has retained Tariq Lutfi as coach of the national football team for the one-off match against India to be played on September 3 at the Pride Park, Derby, England.
“Lutfi is the best option as he has been running the team for the last so many months,” secretary PFF Ahmad Yar Khan Lodhi said while addressing a news conference here on Thursday.
Likewise, Nasir Ismail, Gohar Zaman were also retained as assistant coaches.
The PFF secretary stated that a training camp would get under way in Lahore from Aug 22 and the team will leave for England on August 29.
After playing India, Lodhi said, the PFF is planning to hold two matches against any local club in England on September 5 and 7.
Marketing head of the PFF, Sardar Naveed, has made all arrangements for the match in question and he would also leave for England with the team, Lodhi maintained.
Arguing that the match against India would provide an opportunity to the Pakistan’s players to hone their skills, Lodhi said the PFF would not spend any amount on the tour, adding that the players would also be able to earn money.
Earlier, India and Pakistan were negotiating on a three-match series in different cities in England, but later on the series was reduced to just one match between the archrivals.
The current Pakistan coach, Lutfi, faced criticism after his team failed to beat Bangladesh in the World Cup 2014 qualifiers at home and in Dhaka. However, the PFF has once again reposed confidence in Lutfi for the important tie against India. Under Lutfi’s coaching Pakistan beat India in a 2005 home series which was the first ever series in which Pakistan hosted India.
