Skip to main content

Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Butt talks challenges, aspirations in exclusive interview

In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Pakistan's national team goalkeeper Yousuf Butt has shared his football experiences and aspirations. His journey from debuting in 2012 to becoming a mainstay in the national team is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport. Reflecting on his early days, the goalkeeper said, "I've been with the national team for 12 years, and I made my debut against Singapore in 2012. It's a funny story—I was initially called up in 2011 when George Kottan was the coach, but my mother was worried and said no. However, the PFF called me again, insisting that I should come. I went and never looked back." He also spoke about the challenges and the development of football facilities in Pakistan. "I've seen a lot over the years. When I first joined, we used to train at Lahore's Fame Stadium. I remember the facilities being quite basic—just dirt fields. I even have pictures of those days. Back then, we had PFF housing, but now we stay in hotels. We had to wash our own clothes for training, but now there's development. Although we are still behind, there has been progress," Butt said. Discussing Pakistan's football history, he noted, "In our history, we never played in FIFA qualifiers. We did, however, play four games in Pakistan, and people started coming to the stadiums. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that we could perform so well. Our group had big teams like Jordan and Tajikistan, but we had huge fan support. We now need to qualify for the Asia Cup qualifiers and gradually improve our facilities and stadiums." The goalkeeper also shared his aspirations for the future: "I plan to play in the PFF league, but every footballer's dream is to play in big leagues and win championships like the AFC Champions League. In India, they formed two good leagues, but we have an unofficial league here in Pakistan. It would be beneficial if they discussed and possibly merged with PFF to create better opportunities for our players." He expressed hope for the future leadership of Pakistan football. "Elections will bring a new body, and hopefully, they'll help us continue to grow. With proper funding, better facilities, and a structured national team league, we can take big steps. Right now, we are taking small steps, but financially, we can aim higher." Finally, he had a message for aspiring footballers: "Many boys message me, asking for a chance or a trial. They need to understand that we didn't get here just by attending trials. You need to join a local club, become the best there, then become the best in your district, and eventually join the national team. I was the best in everything, and that's how you advance because only the best move forward."

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/0qxluTs
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Govt, PTI kick off second round of talks ahead of Oct 4 long march

The second round of talks between the government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf began on Saturday, with National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq chairing the session, according to a statement issued by the National Assembly (NA) on X. A day earlier, the first round of talks between the government and opposition concluded with the two sides deciding to meet again on Saturday (today) in the NA speaker’s chamber. The negotiations come amid continued tensions after PTI’s announcement of a long march towards Islamabad on September 27 that was rescheduled to October 4. Currently, the standoff between the federal and provincial governments remains unresolved. The speaker said the previous day’s session was held in a “very cordial atmosphere” and expressed hope that all sides would continue the dialogue in the same spirit. Sadiq also thanked members of the government, PPP and opposition for participating in the talks. حکومت، پ...
Post a Comment
Read more

PTI dismisses PM Shehbaz's 'mere offer' for talks, says govt can initiate contact with opposition leadership

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday dismissed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's proposal for renewed talks as a "mere offer”, while saying that the government could contact leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate for negotiations if it were sincere. The statement came amid heightened political tensions in the country as the PTI's long march reached Kohat. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is leading the convoy, which began its march towards Islamabad on Sunday to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and press the government over what PTI describes as broader political and constitutional grievances. The convoy is currently in Kohat after travelling through Lakki Marwat and Karak, and is expected to depart for Peshawar later today as the party continues its phased mobilisation towards the federal capital. PM Shehbaz earlier today renewed an offer of talks to the PTI, saying the government was prepared to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pakistan rejects India's 'internal matter' claim on Kashmir at UN

Pakistan on Saturday rejected India's characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as an internal matter, telling a United Nations General Assembly committee that the territory's final status remains unresolved and must be determined in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Speaking during the general debate of the Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Pakistan's First Secretary Sarfraz Ahmed Gohar said Islamabad rejected New Delhi's assertion that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. "Pakistan categorically rejects India's futile attempts to dismiss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a so-called internal matter," Gohar said, according to remarks shared by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN. Pakistan categorically rejects India's futile attempts to dismiss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a so-called internal matter. Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory, and it...
Post a Comment
Read more