Former football players, coaches feel ‘ignored’

KARACHI: Pakistan’s football legends and coaches were not happy with the way they were ignored by the organisers for the historic show relating to the arrival of the FIFA World Cup trophy which reached Lahore on Saturday for a day’s stop as part of its global journey.

“Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter had honoured me with a golden star award in Kuala Lumpur in recognition of my services for Pakistan football. But I was ignored and it has saddened me,” former legendry striker Ali Nawaz Baloch told ‘The News’ here on Saturday.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Essa said the deserving legends were not invited to the function which was a real injustice to them.

“I don’t say cricketers should not have been invited but it was a football function and it was the right of the former legends to grace it and play a leading role in the exercise,” Essa said.

Former Pakistan captain Jaffar Khan also looked very dejected.

“It was a football trophy but irrelevant people were invited. It’s an injustice to the former legends and the trophy,” the former premier goalkeeper said.

Former Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi said he was happy that Pakistan men’s team captain Kaleemullah and women’s team skipper Hajra Khan were part of the function.

“But it’s not good to ignore former players like Ali Nawaz Baloch and Mohammad Essa who are pride-of-performance,” said Lutfi.

Former Pakistan’s assistant coach Nasir Ismail said it seemed that along with imposing sanctions on Pakistan, FIFA has also banned Pakistani footballers.

“I would request the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to let footballers lift the ICC World Cup trophy if it is brought to Pakistan in future,” Nasir said.

He said that it was the responsibility of the government to invite all deserving football personalities.