UMAR Riaz is determined to push on with his career after helping Panjab to the World Football Cup Final in Abkhazia last week.

Riaz, 25, plays his club football with Windsor and was called-up to the Panjab squad – a representative team for the Panjab region of India and Pakistan – after winning the UK Asian Football Championships in Scotland.

Panjab surprised many to reach the World Cup final and, despite taking an 86th-minute lead, were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by the hosts and eventually beaten 6-5 on penalties.

The Slough-based star has opened his heart at the “devastation” to lose by the dreaded penalty kicks, but believes he has come back a more confident player and ready to aim higher.

“I didn’t expect the tournament to be that big out there, it was quite exciting,” Riaz told the Observer. “It was unfortunate about the final result but we did well to just get that far.

“It was an opportunity to play against players from the Russian Premier League, so the football was definitely of a high standard.

“It’s the first tournament Panjab has ever had so it is a great start and we can improve on it.

“We got through the group games but it wasn’t until the quarter-finals that we started to believe in ourselves.

“After winning in the semi-finals we were shocked and excited, no-one could quite believe it.

“Everyone there was so supportive and really happy for us.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Umar Riaz, left, with Panjab teammate Toch Singh during the World Football Cup in Abkhazia.

“We were pumped with adrenaline and so happy, and the reaction from the fans was amazing.

“That is where we got our belief from. We definitely started to believe in ourselves then.”

Panjab qualified from a group that included Sapmi and Somaliland, and continued their dream run by beating Western Armenia in the last eight.

Riaz scored the game’s only goal as Panjab edged out Padania in the semi-finals, setting up a clash with the host nation, Abkhazia, in the final.

The tournament concluded in front of a packed Dinamo Stadium in Sukhum on Sunday, but it was Abkhazia who were celebrating after a remarkable come-from-behind victory.

The home nation twice looked out of the game, firstly when trailing 1-0 in the 86th minute and again when two penalties down in the shoot-out, but a stranger-than-fiction turn of events saw them equalise and then complete a penalty great escape to triumph.

“We thought Abkhazia would come out to attack more in the second-half, so it was exciting to make the break through,” said Riaz.

“I thought we defended well all through the tournament, and they did not look threatening, but one cross into the box made all the difference.

“I was up next to take a penalty, but they scored and we missed, so we were out.

“I was so devastated I just stood there in shock on the pitch.

“There were hands in heads with people on the floor and a few of the players were in tears.

“We were not expecting to do as well as we did, but we were three minutes from victory, so it’s going to be devastating.

“We had the chance to win the World Cup.

“Even now I am back in the country but I still can’t get my head around it.”

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: The Panjab squad at the World Football Cup. Panjab featured Windsor midfielder Umar Riaz (bottom row, second from left) and Beaconsfield SYCOB ace Aaron Minhas (middle row, second from right).

Riaz was quick to heap praise on the Panjab management team, who also selected ex-Windsor and now Beaconsfield SYCOB midfielder, Aaron Minhas.

“They were quite strict in looking for the best players,” said Riaz.

“Even if you were playing well but someone could do the job better, they will take your place.

“We were playing against people from the Russian Premier League and we’re only semi-pros, but we matched that level in every game and defended really well.

“We had a different gameplan for each match and the management team got every one right.

“We were told to hold up Abkhazia in the first-half of the final and that worked excellently.”

Riaz is set to meet with Windsor boss Mick Woodham in the coming days and is still to commit to the club for the 2016/17 season.

He commented: “Mick will tell me what direction the club is going in, but I want to go as far as I can.

“I’ve been approached by a step-four club, so want to see how far I can go, especially coming out of the World Cup, which has given me more confidence.

“The coach at Panjab has told me he wants me to go higher and I don’t want to waste my career.”