National volleyball camp set to begin

Players will train under Iran’s Hamid Movahidi from June 5

KARACHI: Pakistan national volleyball team will begin their national camp for the upcoming Asian Championship under Iranian coach Hamid Movahidi at Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Sports Complex from June 5.

Movahidi, who was handed a six-month contract in April, has been tasked with the responsibility of training the side for the Asian Championship, which will be held from June 24 to August 1 in Surabaya, Indonesia.

And according to team captain Naseer Ahmed, the Iranian’s impact is already beginning to reflect in the players.

“I’ve known Movahidi since 2005, when I was playing professional league in Iran,” Naseer told The Express Tribune. “He has changed the whole system of the Pakistan team and has introduced the boys to modern volleyball.”

Naseer also said that Pakistan and Iran teams were at a similar level up until a few years ago when the latter hired Argentinian coach Julio Velasco, who revolutionised Iran’s style of play and turned them into a world-class team — something he believes Movahidi could also do with Pakistan if he is given more time.

“Six months are not enough for the team to adopt a modern style of play; it takes time,” he said. “Movahidi is doing a great job and still has four more months left, but I think he will need more time. The results of his training were there to see at the Islamic Games where we exceeded expectations.”

Naseer believes that Pakistan, after giving Turkey a run for their money and defeating Kyrgyzstan at the Islamic Games, could have made it even further had it not been for some questionable officiating in the defeat to Kazakhstan.

“Had we beaten Kazakhstan, we would have been in the final round but there were some biased decisions made by the match referee, hence, the defeat,” he said.

Regarding his own future, Naseer reiterated his desire to retire but didn’t rule out the possibility of playing on if the team needs him.

“I have already made my mind to quit as I have seen some good talent coming up,” he said. “I have played a long time for Pakistan but if the team needs my services for the Asian Championship I will be there to do the job.”