Q: How do you feel leading the national team on to the field? 

A: I’m very proud to be Captain of this team. We have talented young players and some experienced players, so Im very proud.

Q: How different is your responsibility, now that you are the Captain? 

Outside the field, I feel a little bit more responsible. The younger players are looking upto me as I’m captain now. In the field I’m still the same player, I just focus on my game. That’s my job. I talk a lot with the young players outside the field. How they have to run, how they have to pass. On the field, I don’t like to talk too much. They might be nervous. We have to let them play their game on the field.

Q: You scored a very good goal in the last game. Take us through that please. 

A: Yes. I was waiting for the second ball, counting on winning the second ball. I came one on one with the keeper and I didn’t think too much, I just finished.

Q: You don’t think too much. You just finish your chances. Is that your natural game? 

I like to finish chances.I wait for my chances. We have a very good team so we always get chances. We stay compact at the back because we know we have the quality to score goals.

Q: What does Peter Segrt ask you to do on the field? Does he give you defensive responsibility? 

A: Coach wants us to stay compact so when we don’t have the ball we are fine.He wants me to attack more than defend. He wants us to play fast, attacking football because only then you can score goals.

Q: What is the difference between the Afghanistan team of the present and the one few years ago? 

A: Many things have changed now. Everything has become more professional. It is the base for success.

Q: Coach said you are one of the best, if not the best player he’s coached. What do you have to say about that? 

A: It is always nice to hear the Coach say that. I just do my job, play for my country. As long as I play, I will give 100 per cent.

Q: What are your thoughts on the young players in the squad? 

A: We have a lot of young players. You saw OmidPopalzay. We have Mustafa Zazai. We have to let them focus. They might not be consistent. We have to make them consistent.

Afghanistan will face India in the final of SAFF Suzuki Cup at 5:30 PM on Sunday, 3 January 2016.