Does Pakistan football need expat players?

Does Pakistan football need expatriate players? Will that really help in the long-run or is it just a stop-gap solution?

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) needs to address the situation fast as the future of the game in the country depends on it, but meanwhile football players, experts and followers in the country seem to have already made up their minds.

It is worth a mention here that the PFF has included Bradford Park Avenue Association Football Club's (England) Irfan Khan and Denmark-based goalkeeper Yousuf Butt for Pakistan Youth Team’s tour to Thailand and the 2012 Olympic Asian Qualifiers.

Pakistan’s newly-appointed coach Tariq Lufti has flip-flopped on the issue of expatriate players, first claiming he can make do without them and then retracting to state that these players could help in uplifting the quality of the squad with their experience.

“I’m trying to motivate them (local players). My job is to make them realise that they have the capability and talent to do well at the international level,” Lufti said before saying, “I believe we need these expatriates not because I don’t trust the local talent but because of the experience these players bring with them.”

Pakistan striker and former captain Muhammad Essa, while supporting the inclusion of players based abroad, said in that there cannot be an over-reliance on them.

“Foreign players can support Pakistan team and they are very good. But we cannot rely on them. The problem is they have little time here to adjust or acclimatize with the local conditions of not only Pakistan but throughout Asia,” Essa said in an interview to goal.com.

Local fans argue foreign-based players are all ‘hype and little game’.

“Players like Zeeshan Rehman and Adnan Ahmed may have individual skill, but I don’t think they can perform any miracles in the couple of months they join the Pakistan setup every now and then. Even the Europe-based juniors will not make a difference if they visit for a bit. Often times, there is much drumbeating when foreigners are invited but there is little substance because it takes years to form a good team combination,” Mubashir Sheerazi, a resident of Karachi and a fan of English Premier League club Newcastle United, said.

IT professional and Real Madrid fan Zayed Baloch said, “Inviting Pakistanis based abroad to the camp is a good thing. They can really assist the local boys. But that’s where the line needs to be drawn. The development of local players will most definitely be stunted if players are imported every time there is a big tournament.”

Taha Khan, a university student, said that the move is a bit harsh on local players no matter what their standard. “As it is, in our society there is a great divide and when someone from ‘outside’ comes and takes your place, there is bound to be envy. How can a team work like that?” the 22-year-old asked.

However, some fans offered a counter argument.

“It’s a good thing that a footballer is playing abroad and is part of a competitive league. It shouldn’t be held against him as long as he is passionate about representing Pakistan and is talented enough,” Manoj Shah, a Manchester United fan, said.

Opinion on online forums also seems divided, where some fans have called for the inclusion of more South American-born players while others believe the answer to the problem lies with the lack of football infrastructure in the country.

“The first thing to be done by the PFF is to improve the image of the Pakistan football team in Pakistan itself. I mean how many of the 172 million Pakistanis have ever watched their team play?” asked one fan before going on to suggest the need for a world class stadium and invitations to big international players to the country.

“Why do we look for help from the outside, why can't we see the reality? There are diamonds out there. PFF is looking in the wrong places. We need to find heroes, combine them,” said another fan on a forum.

Perception also plays a big part in this debate. Many people in Pakistan view the foreign-based players as outsiders and seem uneasy over their inclusion, not mindful of the fact that continent-hopping is common practice in world football. And that teams with strong foundations easily manage with some of their best, young talent being poached by big clubs. Furthermore, the international calendar is limited compared to that of club football so players cannot be blamed for spending a vast majority of time with their clubs, international and local ones.

Youth development programmes. That’s where the answer to Pakistan’s problem could lie. Building international-level academies that groom young prospects to top standard will eventually create a system where the tag of ‘local’ or ‘foreign’ talent will no longer be relevant.

Taimur Sikander is a Sports Editor at Dawn.com

The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.

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Comments (33) Closed

FPakistan

Feb 09, 2011 10:43am

U mean foreign-based? I think they're two different things, no? to borrow a phrase from Rafa.. We need a strong domestic scene regardless of these issues...i think that's the conclusion i've come up with after reading this....the pff needs to act fast!

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Usman

Feb 08, 2011 10:39pm

Agreed. Good point.

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Ali Vaqar Awan

Feb 08, 2011 03:26am

Our football indeed does need to include players of Pakistani origin playing abroad. It can add some strength and introduce better playing standards. Also motivate local players to perform. At same time Our football federation also needs to include our local players who are performing so they are not discourged. Selection of local or foriegn players should be on merit and performance. Improvement in football is not only limited to bringing local or foriegn players. Moreover other factors have to be accounted for. Building better standard stadiums, improving domestic league by making them professional, professional academies with better training facilities and bringing in foriegn coach. Also government interfernces needs to controlled like not having good for nothing politicians or any government official involved in running of football federation.

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FPakistan

Feb 09, 2011 10:45am

Get a strong domestic circuit and we'll automatically get good players....why not try to get these expats to compete in PPFL sometimes?

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Zaryal

Feb 08, 2011 03:00am

We r stunned to see high level talent going lost like diamonds cut by amateurs.'We can' needs honour of values:sincerity, dedication and burning midnight oil.

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Amjad Khan

Feb 08, 2011 10:19am

I feel that expatriate pakistanis should certainly be in the team if they are better then the locals. The playing XI should consist of 5-6 overseas players & the rest be left for the best local boys. This same team should be given a chance to play a few international games inorder to understand each other's game very well. And then you will see a massive change in our game. This is for sure!!! I also strongly believe that the leagues in pakistan be given a boost inorder to improve the situation on a long-term basis. All the clubs should have foreign coaches including foreign players. It doesn't matter if the players & coaches are from Africa, Nigeria, Ivory coast, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Tunisia, Mexico, Ecuador. Sorry, to say that but the truth is they will definitely do alot better than our local ones & will certainly create a new kind of atmosphere into Pakistan leagues.

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fahd

Feb 07, 2011 03:33pm

Pakistan football will never, unless the governing body makes drastic improvements at grass roots level, there arent enough football pitches, virtually no astro-turf 5 aside pitches, when i played football in pakistan, it used to take us ages find a proper ground which wasnt crowded with people playing cricket. Sunday leagues like in the UK, would be a step forward.

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Ali Ahsan

Feb 07, 2011 02:24pm

I mean one only needs to look at the track record of players like foreign-based talent Adnan Ahmed, Atif Bashir, Shabir Khan, Amjad Iqbal etc to realise how important these boys have been for the national team! I am sorry but the domestic players are poorly trained, and poorly used in domestic football and they cannot achieve much unless the entire system is overhauled and transparency introduced as well as professionalism!

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Imran sheikh

Feb 07, 2011 02:26pm

Apologies if it has already been mentioned, but I feel the following points would be helpful; Players of Pakistani heritage would bring the understanding of the psyche of football played at the highest level, the will to succeed and the nationalism that informs football in the successful teams of the world. In order to have the never say die attitude players need to experience and play at the level where they will learn. When an England/Scotland/Brazil, etc, player put on his shirt it is more that just about football for him and the nation, sadly much of this is lacking in all sport in Pakistan amongst those that represent the country, however among the ordinary citizens I would argue the passion is still there. On the organisational side, Pakistan needs to invest in a proper structure to produce home grown talent, it is highly important that there is not a mish mash set up that relies too much on expats whilst failing homegrown talent. I feel the expats would help and compliment the development of football in Pakistan not just from a playing point of view but in all aspects of football from coaching, planning to organising, etc. It is when football in Pakistan produces the goods locally that a 'star' player will be born that attracts attention from the biggest clubs in the world and puts Pakistan on the map of world football.

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Ali Ahsan

Feb 07, 2011 02:21pm

As someone who has been involved in this very issue for last 6 years via FootballPakistanDotCom (FPDC), I can honestly say that foreign expatriate players of Pakistani origin are VERY important in getting our national team to perform properly. Not just a token 2-3 players, but at least 5-6 in the starting XI with rest being the best domestic talent under a qualified foreign coach are needed that can improve the performance of our side overnight! Expatriate players are very important, esp. those that play in reasonable competitive league levels across Europe. They bring a technical awareness, tactical knowledge, and competitiveness that domestic footballers severely lack because of our dhakka-start and poorly organised domestic football structure that is filled with incompetent local coaches, poor levels of fitness etc. It will take at least TEN years of constant improvements for our domestic structure to be even considered satisfactory by Asian standards. the fact that most of our local players are essentially government department employees who often lose their ambition of succeeding and improving as they grow once their permanent jobs at WAPDA, KESC, banks, Army etc are guaranteed! You need these expatriate foreign players, and most importantly a foreign coach that weed combine the best local and foreign talent into a proper cohesive unit for long term benefits.

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Bashir

Feb 07, 2011 08:29pm

Players should be free to choose where they want to play. And, I wonder why would players playing abroad will choose to play in Pakistan. India has had many cricketers who brought good name to India and to their adopted countries.

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gauhar mahmood azeem

Feb 07, 2011 02:09pm

Well, I am afraid to say that none of you know anything about Pakistani or Ex-Patriot footballers! I have seen their games, I've covered camps, I've even managed a team against Pakistan National Team in a practice match. Sadly Pakistani players are at a low level right now. Never do I say they shouldnt be supported/promoted/given more facilities. I certainly believe that success breeds popularity and our desi crop CANNOT get success unless BETTER, MORE PROFESSIONAL, FITTER, MORE SKILL-FUL, MENTALLY STRONGER ''Pakistani's playing abroad'' are given the chance they deserve. Why would we or the writer of this article consider our players playing abroad PAKISTANIS when the society considers not MUSLIM the person of another SECT. ALAS!

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Ali

Feb 07, 2011 02:04pm

Actually there is no long term strategy for Pakistani Football. The budget allocation for football is almost nil as compared to Cricket. There is no proper leagues in Pakistan. If we see two of non-Arab Muslims countries Turkey and Iran. The standard of Football is very high. First countries have created an environment and ingited money and secondly created three tiers of leagues in the country. Now regarding European born Pakistani playing for Pakistan is great. Again if you see Turkish European finalist team. There were 7 players who born outside Turkey. Even now Germany requesting Turkish Governement to stop taking German born Turks to their team. I think it is not the matter who plays for Pakistan. It is matter of right environment and right skills.

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A.K.Khan

Feb 08, 2011 12:30pm

I was amazed to read some of the interesting comments readers made regarding local and foreign players and they openly shared their comments that who should represent Pakistan in the upcoming London Olympics. Yesterday, I raised some of the issues and problems that our local players and coaches are facing in terms of financial support, job security and better opportunities for grooming. Here I would like to mention that I got an opportunity to discuss with some of the Local Pakistani players who participated in asain games in China. They stated that it was very hard for them to intermingle with foreign players and they had their own psychies and they hardly interacted with them (local players) in order to develop a social networks among themselves. Here PFF official should concentrate on various ways to create plateforms for dialogue for local and foreign football players where they can share their skills and techniques among each other and they [players] should be encouraged to continue their social networks. In addition, the PFF official should introduce some kind of academic and technological trainings for these national players through which they can develop leadership skills as well as planning skills. So that, these players not only focus on their game during the match, but also make plans outside of the ground. In this way, you can see a tremendous change in our players attitude as well as in their game.

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A.Bajwa

Feb 07, 2011 01:21pm

It would be a good shot in the arm. It is not a question that we don't have talent in Pakistan.You need exposure ferment that talent.

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Shah

Feb 07, 2011 01:22pm

If overseas Pakistani players are techincally and talentwise better than the domestic players then they should be in the team..its not about foreigners or locals. its about who's better? England cricket team has done well from foreigners but these Pakistani are not foreigners they are just born abroad and still feel proud and honoured to represent Pakistan. I agree its not long term but short term and medium term its a must in order to win something and hit the headlines otherwise the 'iron-triangle' of coaches, officials and players remains..coahces selected on politial affiliations and then pick players based on that in order to please the decision makers and not going to win anything or help the country but just themselves. Look at Philippines..they now have 16 or so overseas born players in their team of 25 and recently sent shockwaves in South East Asia and sunndly everybody has taken notice that oh we can win in football too...nobody will support losers and there we need to win. The arguement by the writer isnt justified..if dometic players are better than overseas then they should play and vice versa...we need to have the best 11 out there..simple as that.

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Essa is the best

Feb 07, 2011 05:13pm

we have plenty of talent, its easy to criticize but ground realities are quite different. I think infrastructure plays a big role. More and more FIFA goal projects need to be in Pakistan, which will ultimately groom the talent well, lets pray and hope as hope is ray of life.

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Saad

Feb 07, 2011 12:25pm

Well said, couldn't agree more. There is a big difference between expats and foreigners!

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Amjad Khan

Feb 08, 2011 08:58am

Totally agree with Ali Ahsan... Not just a token 2-3 players, but at least 5-6 in the starting XI with rest being the best domestic talent under a qualified foreign coach are needed that can improve the performance of our side overnight! exactly, if you need a change overnight or much alike!!!

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Mohsin

Feb 07, 2011 04:27pm

why are these players referred to as foreigners? Most pakistanis would jump at the chance at going to england/denmark and being 'foreigners'. When these FOREIGNERS send billions home in pakistan do you call them foreigners then? no i didnt think so. If any of you were really nationalistic then our nation wouldnt be in the mess it is in today

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VAQUAS

Feb 07, 2011 11:52am

Lets get this straight first: They are expats and not foreigners? If they are better skilled, willing to hone green color, talented, passionate, then I don't see the reason why they cannot play for Pakistan. I don't see any harm in making players play for their country.

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DidierD

Feb 08, 2011 07:44am

Mr Gauhar...I'm sure you know a lot more than others....but keep religion out of sports......the writup never says expats are not pakistanis......read and you shall be smarter!

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ZakiZak

Feb 08, 2011 07:58am

The PFF knows it has foreign based Pakistanis to call upon everytime ther is a tournament......They will remain lazy like this and not do anything about their own grass-roots when they can borrow players for the national squad everytime........Why not improve local leagues.....and build dozens of academies? Why have one standard for the international squad and another for local leagues?

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AsifBaggio

Feb 08, 2011 07:37am

Good attempt by the writer to shine light on the views of the general public and what they think about expats.......there is so much of a economic divide in our country that people coming from abroad are seen as the elite who will take away the place of the deserving. People also tend to offer the argument..."what does a gora no about our country and our system." But views like these should be kept OUT of sports....and specially football...a sport without boundaries.... I thank the writer for bringing this up!

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roomi

Feb 08, 2011 07:29am

We need to rise above this suspicion of the outsider. When UK cricket counties grab our cricketing talent its not looked down upon. If these "foreign" players qualify for Pakistan they should be encouraged and supported. we live in a jet age. People travel all over for work. cricketers like Pieterson Allan Lamb who are South Africans qualified to play for England. Dutch fast bowler Dirk Nannes qualified to play for Aussies and ofcourse Usman Khwaja. Lets open our minds, for these footballers from abroad will only bring more skill professionalism and experience of International football with them.

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PakistaniRonaldo

Feb 08, 2011 07:25am

I think you missed the point of the article......its says 'if players of Pakistani origin are competing abroad, in better leagues, it shouldn't be held against them.' I agree with the writeup when it talks about perception....Truth is....most people think the expats are foreigners or outsiders taking the place of deserving local talent.

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Zico

Feb 07, 2011 11:24am

It's simple....the players living and abroad, in most cases, are likely to be a little better than the ones playing in Pakistan's local leagues. And they can, in most cases, easily walk into the national squad. But since they live and play abroad, naturally they get tagged as 'gora' 'burger' or 'elite' and somehow are frowned upon by some local circles. The truth is they can make the team better. But having said that it is also the responsibility of the PFF to raise the standard of the domestic game so instead of scouting for players in Europe they can look in Punjab, KP, Sindh or Lyari and Mauripur alone!

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Zico

Feb 07, 2011 11:27am

I completely agree....regular foreign tours....and better incentives will automatically create a better pool of players.

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PakistaniRonaldo

Feb 07, 2011 11:43am

One of the comments in the blog sums it up......a world class stadium and some visits by big stars is all we need! It'll do wonders.....and how about signing our footballers, boxers and hockey players for ads for a change! instead of the cricketers!

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A.K. Khan

Feb 07, 2011 10:55am

I think we need to support local players and we should provide them better opportunities. Local players should be given preference as well as encouragement. In addition, local players should be sent abroad for trainings for long terms instead of short-term quick fixes and it would not work because they need continuous training to develop the skills of international player. Then one can expect something extra from them. Our local players have the potential to show better performance at the international level. The problem is that there are a few international standard coaches in the country and they have their own problems in terms of finance. They are paid very little amount as compared to foreign coaches. Therefore, they do not fully concentration on the overall development of the players. I personally request PFF chairman to take up this issue at the asian level as well as at the international level with FIFA and ask the world bodies to give more funds to Pakistan for arranging training abroad for the emerging national football players especially to one of the European countries. So that these players would get international exposure and play with international players. This would definitely boost the morale of the players as well as they would gain strengths.

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nasir

Feb 07, 2011 10:10am

Pakistan needs the help and talent of expats to boost their chances of being recognised as a football nation. And there are hundreds of teenagers here in Scotland and indeed in the rest UK who would feel honoured and proud to represent the country of their origin their parents motherland. There is abundance of talent among them and the selectors will spoilt for choice!

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gp65

Feb 09, 2011 12:00am

It does imply they are not Pakistanis when it calls them foreigners.

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Sheikh

Feb 07, 2011 10:49am

I think the Pakistani Givernments have invested fortune amount of money on Cricket, and in return we have mostly received with scandels over and over. Corruption and dishonesty have become norm of our crickters. We have been forgiving them repeatedly but enough is enough. I sincerely want Pakistan to come out of the disgraceful list of countries. Although I am myself a big fan of cricket and has played cricket much of my life, but I belive now is the time to give a chance to some other sports in the country as well. I am happy to know that Pakistan is planning to form a national football team and wish to have it participate in the International game very soon. My tip would be that team players (in small groups) should be sent to different countries for training (e.g. Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy etc) and then have them play club/league matches abroad. The sport should completely be out of politics but entirely on merit basis. Consult with Managers of the foreign teams where Pakistani players will be sent for training in the selection of the national team process that who should be included in the team from the trained groups. Before the players are ready to play the 1st International match, make sure that every player follow the discipline. Their attitudes much match to the International level sportsmen. If one doesn't show the discipline, no matter how good that player be should immediately be kicked out of the team. I hope and wish our newly born team to bring back the dignity and honour of our country that it is currently lost.

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