The highest goal scorer for Pakistan, Essa is also in big demand among various departments and clubs. Having started with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), he went on to join Chaman's Afghan Football Club, followed by a lengthy stint with the Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) outfit. Currently, he plays for the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) after accepting their record fee offer.

The 26-year-old announced his retirement from international events in December 2009, soon after falling out with the team's Austrian coach, George Kottan. He is being pressurised by all his fans to take back his emotional decision ever since.

How did you get involved in football?

Coming from a family of footballers, I grew up immersed in their enthusiasm for the game. Football has a big following in Chaman. Two of my uncles were outstanding players. We are three brothers—my older brother Ahmad Shah plays at the national level and younger brother Jahangir Khan is part of the under-19 team. Starting at the under-16 level myself in 1995, I went on to play for the under-19 side and was selected in the national team in 2000.

Would you also like to see your children follow in your footsteps?

Well, I have two sons, and as far as their playing football is concerned, we'll see what direction they want to take in life and if they even want to play any sport at all. it is still too soon to tell.

When were you named captain of the Pakistan team?

I took over captaincy of the national team from Jafar Khan in late 2006. I had turned 23 then.

What is your favourite playing position?

Striker—I have scored 28 goals as striker for the Pakistan team. No other footballer has scored as many goals for the country in its entire 63-year history. I also play in the midfield, mostly for KESC, my department team.

Have you earned any honours or awards?

Well, playing for one's country and wearing its colours is the biggest honour of all for any sportsman. It was a great moment of pride for me to be a part of the squad that won gold in the SAFF Championship in 2004 (Islamabad) and 2006 (Colombo). I scored five goals in 2004 and four in the 2006 edition. Soon after that, in 2007, I was decorated with the President's Pride of Performance.

Do you have any intention of coming out of retirement?

At the moment I am playing league matches for my department. I have still not been approached by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) to reconsider my decision of retirement so I am very much out of action on the international front for now.

Does football have a future in Pakistan?

That depends on how long it takes us to set up a proper system for the promotion of the game here. We feature in the biennial SAFF Championship, the Asian Games, and the South Asian Games but that, along with a few club tournaments abroad, is pretty much it. So we are still at an amateur level.

We have a good 50 years to go before even being considered a proper football-playing country.