Interview: Pakistan Captain Mohammed Essa

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Pakistan national team captain Muhammad Essa

So what’s going on these days?

Well, Pakistan football team doesn’t have any tour or any match till April 2009, so at international level there is no football activity for me. At club level, I have just finished  the domestic league season, where my club KRL finished third.

Now I have to focus on the AFC Challenge Cup, the dates of the event aren’t confirmed yet but may be in February or March. I will lead the team.

How did you become a footballer?

Obviously I was interested in the game since my childhood. I represented Pakistan at junior level before being named for the senior team in 2001.

My first match was against Lebanon in a 2002 World Cup qualifier in 2001. Then in 2004 I was chosen as vice captain and in 2006 I was given the captaincy. My first match as captain was against Jordan for Asian Cup qualifying.

Why didn't Pakistan progress in World Cup qualification?

There are many reasons but as a captain the two most obvious for me is the poor state of the grass-roots in Pakistan and the absence of a foreign coach in national team.

You always have to rely on the grass-roots, schools or college football for getting talent. But there is no such system so there is no talent and quality in the country.  

Secondly, the foreign coach is a must for Pakistan if we want compete. The European teams have good coaches that’s why they are dominating.

Foreign coaches always benefited Pakistan in the past. I still remember John Layton, who was a well qualified coach and with Salman Sharida Pakistan team began to move up in the FIFA team ranking. Since the departure of Sharida you can see that the graph of football is continuously declining in Pakistan.  

Why doesn't Pakistan have hire such people?

The Pakistan FA President Faisal Saleh Hayat asked the players a few days ago about our requirements regarding coaches. As a captain and senior player I strongly supported Salman Sharida.

Can local coaches deliver the goods?

The standard of football in the country is very low, so is the quality of local coaches. There are some good names like Tariq Lutfi and Akhter Mohiuddin but they all can only coach a team but cannot deliver results.

Foreign coaches are more qualified and experienced. They are in a better position not to allow interference from anywhere and there is no nepotism in the team.

You have emphasized the grass roots. Aren’t football academies more important and a pre-requisite before we work on grass-root level?  

Yes and it is the job of the FA to plant academies in every province. The talent we need can be groomed there and players can get football education and training. But we have to start our working at the Under-12 level if we aim to develop the game here.  

Why can't the Pakistan Premier League produce good footballers?

With the current system we cannot produce good footballers. If players aren’t paid or rewarded according to their standards, how can they perform? The pay scale of all the players in their department is same, irrespective of their seniority and experience. Therefore they don’t work hard.

In Europe you see there is true spirit of professional football, those who play better are paid better. Even in India players are given Rs. 2 million to 2.5 million for one season. So football is improving there.  

Why don’t Pakistani players overseas?

The international football schedule often interferes in the professional football season. We can either play at club level or chose our national assignments. If we only concentrate on clubs then we may lose our place in the national team. That’s why players are reluctant to go outside.  

Did you get any offers from foreign clubs?

I received an offer from a club in Maldives but they would only allow me to play for Pakistan in the World Cup qualifying matches and that was not possible for me. Nowadays, I have an offer from Mohan Bagan but the problem is the same. But still I am considering the offer seriously.  

European players like Zesh Rehman have played for Pakistan. As a captain how did you find them?

Foreign players can support Pakistan team and they are very good. But we cannot rely on them. The problem is they have little time here to adjust or acclimatize with the local conditions of not only Pakistan but throughout Asia.

Zesh Rehman arrived in Pakistan many times but he couldn’t play in most of the matches because he couldn’t adjust and got sick. In my opinion if they are permitted, the European players should come Pakistan 15 to 20 days earlier before the event, so they can properly acclamitize themselves.        

Besides Zesh, who else impresses you in the team amongst your teammates who play outside Pakistan?

Adnan (Ahmed) is also fantastic. But unfortunately he couldn’t get many chances.  

Muhammed Wasim