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Pakistan national football team head coach Nolberto Solano has missed the team’s training camp in Islamabad due to a visa application error. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Football Federation confirmed that Solano applied for the incorrect visa category, necessitating a reapplication process that caused significant delays.
Solano, a former Peru international and Newcastle United player, is now expected to bypass the Islamabad camp and join the squad directly in Indonesia for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup. In his absence, assistant coaches Titus Bramble and Walid Javaid have been managing the team’s preparations.
The Pakistan squad, which consists of 23 players led by captain Abdullah Iqbal, includes the return of experienced forward Kaleemullah. The team is scheduled to begin its tournament campaign against Thailand on September 26, followed by matches against the Philippines on September 29 and Vietnam on October 2.
Pakistan is participating in the tournament as one of three guest nations, alongside Bangladesh and Hong Kong. The team is placed in Division One Group B, where only the group winner will advance to the final, while the second-placed team will compete in a third-place playoff.
Article source: gulfnews.com | Image credit: gulfnews.com
