In yet another example of how neglected futsal remains in Pakistan, the national team preparing for the upcoming Asian Qualifiers has been left struggling for proper training facilities in Islamabad.
According to Faizan Lakhani, the national team, which will travel to Saudi Arabia this month to represent Pakistan, has been resorting to practising on basketball courts at a private university in the federal capital.
Due to the unavailability of Islamabad’s Liaquat Gymnasium, which usually serves as a training centre for the futsal team, the official camp has been shifted to a private university. However, the arrangement is far from ideal. Because of university classes during the day, the national futsal side is only allowed to train in the evenings, leaving the players to make do with a basketball court for their morning sessions.
This makeshift setup has raised serious concerns about Pakistan’s preparation for the Asian Qualifiers, where they will face top regional futsal teams with far superior resources and infrastructure.
Despite the Pakistan Football Federation’s recent efforts to bring futsal into the limelight, critics argue that the current situation clearly highlights how the sport continues to be overlooked in the federation’s broader football development plans.
Pakistan’s Asian Cup qualifiers were originally scheduled last month in Saudi Arabia but have been moved to October due to unforeseen circumstances. Pakistan is now scheduled to face Iraq on October 18, Saudi Arabia on October 20, and Chinese Taipei on October 22 during the upcoming tournament.
Despite the challenges, the players remain determined to give their best at the continental event. But given the circumstances, training on borrowed courts and with limited facilities, expectations will have to be tempered.