Young Pakistani footballers get warm welcome in Saudi Arabia

A 30-member contingent of Pakistan U-16 Football team and officials snapped at Jeddah Airport of Saudi Arabia on Sept. 12, 2019. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Football Federation)

• Excited to play good football in Saudi Arabia, says Pakistan’s U-16 team
• Pakistan will play matches against Saudi Arabia, Syria and Oman

LAHORE: Pakistan Under-sixteen (U-16) Football team received a warm welcome at Jeddah Airport as they reached Saudi Arabia on Thursday to participate in Asian Football Championship qualifying round matches.
A 30-member squad, footballers and officials, was received by the delegation of the host federation led by Thamer Alharthi, Protocol and Liaison Officer of Saudi Arabia Football Federation.
“We are very excited to play good football in Saudi Arabia,” said Mohib Ullah, a member of the Pakistani squad. “We are being given warm hospitality here in Saudi Arabia by the hosts,” he told Arab News.
Pakistan U-16 team will play qualifying matches with other three Arab teams including Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Oman starting from September 18 in Dammam.
Pakistan will play its first match against Oman on September 18, its second against Saudi Arabia on September 20 while the third and the last game will be on September 22 against Syria.
Ahead of the matches in Saudi Arabia, FIFA accredited Pakistan Football Secretariat held a six-week training camp for the young footballers selected to play the Asian Football Championship (AFC) championship.
“The team is in good shape. In the six weeks long camp, all the possible training measures have been taken. We will play according to aggressive strategy,” Jose Roberto Portella, Brazilian national, head coach for Pakistani team told Arab News.