KARACHI, April 22: A spirited under-20 Pakistan soccer squad gears up here for its new assignment amid pathetic conditions and apathy of the sport’s managers that may dampen players’ morale.

The squad had shifted from Islamabad late Sunday night to participate in the under-20 Asian championship group V qualifiers which kick off April 25 here at People’s Sports Complex.

Although the morale at the camp is sky high until now, the players, like the previous camps, face same old step-motherly treatment from Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

A meagre sum of Rs40 per day was all the players were given as daily allowance for the camp which began March 26. The players got a total amount of Rs1040 (@Rs40 per day), but not before April 20.

At the moment, there seems little or no possibility the players will be given their daily allowance from April 21 to 24, and the match allowances when the tournament starts.

Despite being a soccer-starved nation, the youngsters in the past had avoided the national camps that proved a punishment for them, chiefly because they were not paid allowances by the PFF.

Barring last year’s England tour when the squad members were given Rs2000 each, the team members have rarely been paid daily allowances during the overseas tournaments.

How the national players are being given cold shoulder by the PFF could be judged by the fact that even departments like PTCL and ABL pay Rs700 to Rs800 per day to their players during the national tournaments.

Although the squad which showed lots of promise was in high spirits during the sessions at KMC Stadium Monday, the footballers were seen toiling hard to perfect their drills under the blazing sun without having proper kits.

The players have been provided sub-standard kits including local toe shoes which could not be said to be of international quality. Since the PFF-provided boots may tear anytime during the tournament, the players would be wearing the toe shoes that they would buy from their own pockets.

The goalkeeper got his kit from the PFF, but without the protective foam on the sleeves and shorts.

Most of the players do not even have their own kit bags, while a kitman at the Pakistan soccer camp is considered a luxury, too expensive to afford.

The critics, fans and the PFF, all expect wonders from the players who mostly belong to the downtrodden section of the society. But can the players deliver what they are being anticipated in these hopeless circumstances.

Ironically, the PFF has been granted US$1 million by the sport’s governing body, FIFA, as part of Financial Assistance Programme for the period of 1999-2002.

The PFF has at least received three tranches of $250,000 each while FIFA is to release the remaining part of the aid later. Apart from one million, the PFF’s purse has further ballooned after it was selected last year for the $400,000 FIFA’s Goal Project.

According to a FIFA spokesman, although PFF could not spend FIFA money on giving allowances to the players, the national federations can utilise Financial Assistance Programme in exceptional cases.

“It is not allowed to pay any daily allowances in the frame of the Goal Project or the Financial Assistance Programme.

However, from the fund of the Financial Assistance it is exceptionally possible to pay pocket money, for example of $50 for players travelling to a youth tournament,” the FIFA official told Dawn from Switzerland — the FIFA headquarters.

The under-20 contests is a youth tournament and FIFA funds could be used by PFF under the present circumstances.

But what to talk about giving allowances to budding players, the PFF has even failed to build a Football House despite receiving hefty amount from game’s international body.

While the aspiring footballers and the sport in the country suffer, PFF officials remain busy in joy rides round the year, attending Asian Football Confederation and FIFA meetings.