Now that the camp is in its final stages and the match is approaching, how was your overall session? What did you learn, and how confident are you for the match? What do you think in advance about how the game will go and what the result might be?
Jeevan Khan: I have been in this camp and I have learned a lot. Our team has also had some talented players. I have learned a great deal, and my senior teammates like Shayek Bhai have also taught me a lot. God willing, we hope for a good result.
Shayek Dost: Bismillah. We are pumped up. For the past two to three days we have been in intense training. God willing, we will try to get a good result. All the boys are fit and ready to play. God willing, the result will be good.
Ali Raza: Our training session has been going well — all the players have been doing teamwork, putting in the effort. All players are fit, alhamdulillah. We have also studied the match, watched Myanmar before. God willing, we hope to give them a tough time and make Pakistan proud.
You have attended the full camp, you observed the midfielders, the strikers, and the defenders. To what extent are they ready for this match?
Jeevan Khan: They are very ready, completely ready. Several of our players are coming back having played abroad — Shayek Bhai is playing in Bangladesh, Hayyan Bhai, and many others. The National Challenge Cup also just happened, so none of the players have gone a long time without playing football. They are match-fit and God willing will deliver a good result.
Shayek Dost: God willing, our preparation is good and we expect all the boys to play well. This time our local boys are getting a chance — the overseas players have been rested by the coach, so it’s a great opportunity for our local lads to show what they can do and God willing get the right result.
Ali Raza: Alhamdulillah, all the boys are fit. The match will be played on a turf in the heat, but given all the training we have done in these conditions, we are confident we will give a hundred percent in this match, God willing.
You have played against Myanmar before. Do you feel that any mistakes or shortcomings from the previous match have been identified and corrected, and that you will avoid those mistakes in this match as well?
Jeevan Khan: I think the previous match was about a year ago. Since then the coaching staff has changed, the game plans have changed. You know, Pakistani football was quite defensive before — just sitting back. Now under Coach Solano, there is a lot of attacking play as well. As you saw, we even scored a goal against Afghanistan. I think it’s a different team and God willing a different result will come.
Shayek Dost: From what I experienced playing against Myanmar in the first match, they are a competitive side at our level. But if the boys play with passion and energy, God willing the result will be different.
Ali Raza: Tactically before it was a bit defensive, not so attacking. Under Solano, who is a very positive coach for his players, we are confident we will score and give Myanmar a tough time, and then look forward to the next events.
In the National Challenge Cup we saw a very direct style of play — a lot of long balls and physical battles. Coach Solano’s entire emphasis is on keeping the ball on the ground. The players who are the top performers from the National Challenge Cup — have they been able to absorb that difference yet?
Jeevan Khan: It’s not as if we can’t keep the ball on the ground. We can play either way. Keeping possession, working the ball on the ground. I play for SA Gardens, we play the same way. But there are a lot of factors involved. Ground condition is one of them. The game plan given to us by our coaches for the National Challenge Cup was to play direct because of the surface we were playing on. It’s not an issue because we all know the skills that we have, so there was no problem with that.
Shayek Dost: Yes, the Challenge Cup is a short-format tournament. Most of the departmental teams and clubs play direct football just to win. But if and when we have a league format going forward, God willing the style will settle in properly.
Ali Raza: As you asked — yes, we can play on the ground, absolutely. Pakistani players have a lot of talent, mashallah — Allah has given everyone natural ability. As the coach says, “play ground passes,” and we can absolutely do that. As Jeevan mentioned, ground conditions can be an issue in some places, but if we get a proper grass or astroturf pitch, we can perform at a hundred percent, God willing.
Ali Raza and Jeevan — this is possibly your first call-up together. It’s a new combination of local players. What do you think you can bring to this match? Solano has rested the diaspora players, so with so many local players, where does the difference come in?
Jeevan Khan: I think local players have all to prove. Most of our diaspora players are really good and are playing in good leagues. I hope the local players feel something here, because our diaspora players are playing in good leagues abroad. If God willing we win this match, then everyone will feel that it’s not only the diaspora players who are quality players. If we win, it will show that Pakistani football has grassroots talent here too — there are quality players here as well.
Shayek Dost: Yes, absolutely. The overseas boys have the advantage of playing in leagues regularly, while local boys don’t get as many opportunities. But the training and preparation the local boys have put in during this camp — God willing the boys are pumped up and a good result will come.
Ali Raza: I have played for the senior team before — against Afghanistan — and also in the Under-23s. So it’s a very positive thing that we have been called up again for the senior team. This is our reward for the hard work we put in before — now we have to deliver it. We have to show it on the ground. Whatever is needed for Pakistan, God willing we will deliver it.
