Lack of Coordination the Main Reason Behind Afghanistan Crush in Challenge Cup

Afghanistan Times News Bureau

KABUL: Lack of coordination among Afghan footballers was the main reason behind failure of Afghanistan in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup, said an official on Saturday.

7 Afghan refugees from Europe and US joined the national team in the challenge cup and players did not have proper coordination among each other. This caused Afghanistan lose the match, said Ahmad Shah Sayer, Head of Media Department Football Federation, in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan Times Daily.

He added that Afghan football team defeated Sri Lanka by 1-0 goal and lost their two matches for Nepal and North Korea respectively in Group D and crashed the rest of the tournament.

“If there was a special sport ground inside the country and all players had practiced and knew the techniques and tactics of each others, I am sure that Afghanistan football team would have beaten others,” Mr. Sayer added.

Hamayon Kargar, Coach of Afghanistan National Football Team told Afghanistan Times Daily that the players had practiced since last three months for readiness for the abovementioned cup. But he did not express its concerned regarding coordination of football players.

Ahmad Qubad, a football player told Afghanistan Times Daily that those teams are successful; which have teamwork and the players are well aware of each others’ techniques.

“If the football federation selects Afghan refugees in the national team, it must provide practicing facilities inside the country so the players should get along with each others,” he noted.

Mr. Kargar praised the performance of players in three matches of challenges cup, he said players still need more effort and hard practice to set them for big football tournaments.