MALÉ, Maldives (GNP): Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano and skipper Abdullah Iqbal used their pre-match press conference to project quiet confidence ahead of Pakistan’s opening fixture against Bangladesh at the Maldives Diamond Jubilee International Tournament, while also painting a broader picture of where Pakistani football is headed.
Solano made clear that participation in this four-nation event, which also features hosts Maldives and Afghanistan, is part of a deliberate buildup to the SAFF Championship. He expressed gratitude to both the Pakistan Football Federation for committing to the tournament and to the Maldives for extending the invitation, describing the competition as a meaningful setting to sharpen squad chemistry.
Abdullah Iqbal reinforced that view, calling the fixtures exactly the kind of preparation the squad needs before the regional showpiece. Looking further ahead, Solano identified Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns, resuming next year, as the team’s principal long-term objectives.
Rebuilding from the Ground Up
Asked about Pakistan’s FIFA suspension and the continued absence of a professional domestic league, Solano acknowledged the difficult stretch the sport had endured but pointed to genuine progress under PFF President Mohsin Gilani. He described the country as being on an upward trajectory, with professionalisation the logical next step.
The coach was emphatic about why a competitive domestic structure matters: it gives young players in Pakistan something to aspire to. With limited pathways for local talent to seek opportunities abroad, he argued that the country must create those opportunities at home.
Solano outlined the role overseas Pakistani players, particularly those based in Scandinavia and broader Europe, play in elevating the national squad’s quality while homegrown structures continue to mature. He framed diaspora talent not as a replacement for local development, but as an added layer of experience and technical quality.
He also noted that, having spent nearly a year with the group, familiarity and cohesion within the squad have grown considerably, something he hopes this tournament will strengthen further.
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Measured Respect for Bangladesh
Despite reports suggesting Bangladesh may field a relatively inexperienced side, Solano was careful not to underestimate the opposition. He noted that regardless of age or squad composition, a national team deserves full professional respect, and Pakistan intends to represent the country accordingly.
Abdullah, meanwhile, reflected on a narrow 1-0 defeat to Maldives back in 2023, using it as a reference point to illustrate how much the team has evolved. He expressed confidence that the improvements made over the past two to three years will be visible on the pitch.
Solano acknowledged the towering presence of cricket in Pakistani sporting culture, but argued that consistent results from the senior national side are the most effective tool for shifting public attention toward football. He described the sport’s growth as gradual but genuine, a process that requires patience, but one he believes is firmly in motion.
