Kottan looks Shabir closely for strengthening Pakistan back four

Kottan looks Shabir closely for strengthening Pakistan back four

Lahore, 15 August : Worchester City FC’s defender Shabir Khan is under watchful eyes of  Pakistan football team coach George Kottan during Euro Tour arranged by Operation Wing of Pakistan Football Federation on the directives of PFF’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat.

Kottan is in Europe to nurture new talent from Euro Leagues and give muscle to the National and National U23 team for coming assignments in international arena. He is looking for three overseas players to become part of Pakistani teams in future.

“Since joining Pakistan last February, I am searching for a exploitable left full back because this spot is a feeble point in the National Team. I have tried WAPDA’s Naveed Akram, NBP’s Yasir Sabir, Mehmood Khan and Orangzeb (KESC) with several drills but none of them impressed me. I observed Shabir Khan’s style was better then home-based players when he represented Worcester City FC against St. Albans City FC at Clarence Park  and Woking FC at Kingfield FC in Conference South Leaguer, one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, having 22 teams.”

said Kottan, one of the seven gold medalist coaches in the history of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.

Lanky, twenty four -year-old Shabir is left leg player who have a good structure to suit defender. “I need a left full back who can switch from defense to offence very quickly, and be able to go ahead to support the front-runners. Two games are not enough. I need to watch him (Shabir) for more games and during Training session too.”

I will analyze all the players of Euro Leagues from different angles as my goal is to build up a formidable teams for the SAFF Championship (December 2009) and 11th South Asian Federation Games (Jan-Feb 2010).

Kottan will continue his search for more overseas footballers of Pakistani origin who are showing willingness to wear color of Pakistan football.

Amjad Iqbal (17 August - Bradford Park Avenue v FC United, Manchester)

Shabir Khan/Adam Karim (17 August - Worcester City v Basingstoke Town)           

Reis Ashraf (18 August - Leamington v Evesham United)            

Amjad Iqbal (22 August - Bradford Park Avenue v Hucknall Town)