Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Melaka: AFC President’s Cup 2013 Pakistani finalists KRL Football Club are relishing the encounter with Turkmenistan champions Balkan and are looking forward to making not just the club but everyone in Pakistan proud.
KRL stormed into the final of the continental third-tier club competition held in a neutral venue, in the Malaysian state of Melaka, at the Hang Jebat Stadium on Sunday.
Appearing for the third time in the tournament, the Pakistani league champions opened their campaign on Monday with an encouraging 1-0 upset of the tournament’s most regular contenders and two-time champions Dordoi of Kyrgyzstan.
The Tariq Luft-led side then recorded a 2-0 win over AlQuds Hilal of Palestine, who had also beaten Dordoi 3-2.
And their show in the AFC President’s Cup final on Sunday will be the first ever final appearance by any Pakistani team in AFC competitions.
“We respect Balkan because like us, they were unbeaten in the finals campaign of the tournament,” head coach Lutfi said. “They are a balanced team and converted more goals than us. But I hope we will have a good final against them.
“And our final appearance is not important for the club only but it also means something for the whole of Pakistani football. We are the first team to reach the final in any AFC competitions, so this really makes us proud. We are a finalist not just for KRL but for all in Pakistan.”
KRL went into their second match against AlQuds as a handicapped team who had no option of drawing but only to win to secure their ticket to the final but this paradoxically proved to be a source of mental strength that KRL aim to have again in their final showdown.
“Of course, being the first in Pakistani football to reach a final in AFC tournaments brings us tension and pressure because this show and performance is connected to all in Pakistan,” Lutfi said.
“But we really hope this pressure will produce performance instead of underperformance. We want to turn this round to be a performance mental boost.”
Photo: WSG