Star Pakistani footballer invited to play in India
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Muhammad Essa, one of Pakistan’s rising football stars, said Sunday he has been invited to play for an Indian club after he won the player of the series title against India on Saturday.

“I have been invited by the East Bengal club to play in the famous Calcutta League,” 24-year old Essa said.

“It’s a great honour for me to follow in the footsteps of some of my illustrious countrymen who played league football in India.”

The drawn football series which finished here Saturday was the first ever between India and Pakistan.

Essa scored a second-minute goal during Pakistan’s emphatic 3-0 win. He had also scored the equaliser with a curling free-kick in the first match last week to earn

Pakistan a 1-1 draw at Quetta. India won the second match at Peshawar 1-0.

Pakistan will keep the trophy by virtue of their superior goal difference. A second series is likely to be played in India next year.

“The series has proved that both India and Pakistan can benefit by playing each other,” said Essa.

Pakistan coach Tariq Lutfi said more encounters between the two neighbours could help improve the standard of the game. “It’s a welcome sign that Pakistan and India have played the first-ever series. You improve by playing teams of your region and the series helped lift Pakistan’s standard,” said Lutfi.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, chief guest at the last match, also acclaimed the sporting co-operation. “It’s a welcome sign that India furthered sporting ties by sending their football team and we must continue this co-operation,” said Aziz.

“We brought a young side here and the series has helped us identify some young players,” said Indian football coach Sukhwinder Singh, whose inspirational striker Baichung Bhutia missed the tour due to health problems. “Our target is the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar next year and I hope that with all the senior players back we will put up a better show.”●