National football camp starts today

National football training camp for the build up of national team to appear in the...

National football training camp for the build up of national team to appear in the 2nd AFC Challenge Cup will commence today (Friday) at the Punjab Stadium.

The camp will be participated by ten goalkeepers and 38 outfield players. The team will take part in the AFC Group A qualifiers being played in April in Chinese Taipei.

The four-team event features last edition's runner-up Sri Lanka, little-known Guam and hosts Taipei.

The winner of Group-A will join North Korea, Turkmenistan, India and Myanmar in the eight-team finals at India.

The winner of the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 will get automatic entry in 15th Asian Cup 2011.

Meanwhile, President Pakistan Football Federation, Faisal Saleh Hayat said, "soccer goalkeeper is one of the most important players on the field -- they are the last line of defense and the first line of attack.

To play the position well requires special skills and training. We have hired the services of famous former international goalkeeper Noman Ibrahim to train goalkeepers for the future assignment of national team, the first being April's AFC Challenge Cup." "I'm a big believer of the fact that every goalkeeper needs training. It's a vital part of the goalkeeper's improvement. There is literature all over to read to train goalkeepers," said Faisal.

Goalkeeper Iltaf Ahmed is one of the ten keepers along with Amir Qureshi, Ghulam Nabi (KRL), Syed Sultan Ali, Bilal Rafiq (PIA), Mujahid (PTV), Yasir bin Younas (NBP), Toqeer Ahmed (Faisalabad), Mahmood Ahmed (Army) and Basit Ghafoor (PEL).