The South Asia Football Federation (SAFF) tournament was held in Karachi last December and although Pakistan failed to triumph by lifting the trophy, Rehman saw enough to tell him that the country has the potential to go on to greater things in future.

Near neighbours India became the 2005 SAFF Champions when they overcame a dogged Bangladesh 2-0 in the final at The Peoples Sports Complex in Karachi. Bangladesh had previously put pay to Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final on home soil, when they emerged victorious 1-0 in the semi-finals, a result which frustrated the whole Pakistan side and Rehman in particular.

Speaking exclusively to The Khaleej Times, Rehman reflected on what might have been. “There is no way we should have lost in the semifinal, we were unlucky not to win it.” said Rehman who was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet himself, seeing a goal bound header cleared off the line. “We had worked hard up till that point and the team were focussed on a final place. I know Pakistan are capable of doing better, and that’s what we must look to now ” declared the 22-year old.

British born Rehman had no way of knowing how the people of Pakistan would react to his arrival in the country of his parent’s birth, but was left in no doubt he would be feted everywhere he went, when he stepped off the aircraft at Karachi airport.

TV camera crews and journalists crammed the airport jetty on Rehman’s arrival, as the population laid eyes on their protégé for the first time. The same treatment would follow Rehman throughout his stay in Pakistan, and for someone used to the high profile of the English Premier League, even Rehman was taken aback by the level of scrutiny and attention towards him, the country hanging on his every word.

For every Pakistan fixture, the stadiums were packed, with thirty thousand passionate fans, cheering Rehman’s every touch. In the end however, home advantage was not enough for Pakistan to take the SAFF title, leaving Rehman and his team-mates to reflect on how close they came.

Rehman may have been the centre of attention for the duration of the tournament, but it is the whole of the young Pakistan team who have demonstrated they have the capacity to build on SAFF 2005, a fact not lost on the six foot three inch Fulham defender. “Ten players in our team are under twenty four, and we will learn from this competition. It has been a great experience for me personally, and I think we are just lacking in finishing off in front of goal. I now want the team to improve,” said Rehman challengingly.

Under Rehman’s guidance, the defence certainly has tightened up, with the Fulham player marshalling the back four so successfully, that Pakistan only conceded one goal, and then only in the semi-final defeat, achieving total shut outs against Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and The Maldives who had previously put ten past Afghanistan.

The successful 2005 SAFF tournament, organised by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), has proved to have left an indelible mark on Rehman the man and Rehman the player.

He talks with such warmth and affection of his time with the Pakistani people and team, and of a camaraderie and team spirit, which Rehman would not have witnessed, in his budding Premiership career at Fulham.

The Pakistan players would meet regularly and team prayers before games and training were something which Rehman says gave him a sense of spirituality and a whole new perspective on life. Even Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz dropped in on Rehman and his team-mates to see how the national side were progressing, such was the interest.

Such are the trappings of riches of a Premiership player, Rehman is already a wealthy young man, that when the PFF handed Rehman his pay for the tournament he made a genuine gesture towards his team-mates. “ I just said, look its been an honour and a great experience for me to meet you all, and play in the same side as you.” Rehman then instructed his pay packet be divided between the rest of the team, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years.

Safely back in the UK now, Rehman can reflect on his efforts which have seen the Pakistan team jump fifteen places in the Fifa World rankings, but he knows there is still a long way to go.

Optimistic by nature, Rehman will quietly go about training with Fulham, knowing he will return to Pakistan soon, hoping to build a future Asian powerhouse.