Players of Pak-origin allowed to play in National Soccer team
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has taken a land mark decision by allowing overseas players of Pakistani descent to be included in the Pakistan team which will play in international tournaments in the near future.
To fulfil its pledge PFF has allowed a British football player Zeshan Rehman Zesh of Pakistani descent, who expressed the desire to represent his native land in the 14th Asia Cup and SAFF Championship.
“We have opened up gates for promising overseas players of Pakistani descent. Not only Zesh’s offer has been accepted by PFF but also we have requested the foreign soccer followers to reveal us as many Pakistani origin footballers playing in Euro and Latin American Leagues”, said President, PFF, Faisal Saleh Hayat here on Tuesday.
Faisal added “ We have contacted Fulham Club’s manager Christopher Coleman for release of Zesh for Asian Cup and SAFF Championship. We hope we will be able to have more talented overseas players in our side that will certainly give boost to Pakistan soccer”.
If he represents Pakistan, Zesh will not be the first British Pakistani to play for South Asian Nation. Usman Gondal (Leicester City) entered his name in list of Pakistani internationals when he came on as substitute for Abdul Aziz in the first Test of Indo-Pak Series at Quetta on June 12 this year.
Birmingham-born Zeshan, already an England youth international, is capable of playing in defence or midfield, but it is at the back where he has made a big impression. At the age of 21, he is the star-in-waiting, who will strive to disprove the theory that Britain Asians are not up to much when it comes to football. Five other British Asians are also playing full-time professional soccer, albeit for clubs three divisions below the Premiership.
“Zesh is a great athlete and his attitude to the game is incredible. He studies the sport and studies his performances”, Christopher said. Zesh made his Fulham First Team debut as a substitute in 2003. With a wealth of England experience at various youth levels, he thoroughly deserved his Premiership debut against
Liverpool at Anfield on April 17, 2004 as substitute for Bobby Petta. Zeshan has been an ever present in Christopher ‘s back line, and despite some poor results and performances from Fulham, he is one player who has come out with a lot of credit.
Zesh became the first British Asian to start Premiership match when Fulham defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on October 30, 2004. “There aren’t any British Pakistanis playing for any of the big clubs at the moment. I think the main reason that a lot of British Pakistanis don’t make it as footballers is because they don’t get enough support off their parents. A lot of our culture revolves around education and I think a lot of parents are wary of their children getting too involved in sport”, Zeshan said.