‘Absence of a coach led to our defeat’
Cueists Imran, Sajjad mull over reasons for losing to Iran.
KARACHI:
Cueists Mohammad Sajjad and Imran Shahzad blamed the series loss to Iran on the absence of a coach after Pakistan went down to the hosts last week.
Both the players felt that the defeat has forced them to adopt a different approach towards the Asian Snooker Championship 2011 that will begin from April 23 in India.
Pakistan lost to Iran by 17 points, Sajjad managed 11 wins out of 15 matches while Shahzad and Pakistan number one Mohammad Shahid won five matches each.
“The Iranian cueists were well trained and that made the difference,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “Although we were more experienced, they have coaches like the English player PJ Nolan, whereas we relied on our instincts and natural ability.”
According to Sajjad, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) should hire a coach for the local cueists and revamp the facilities if they want positive results in international tournaments.
Meanwhile, Pakistan number two Shahzad said that the PBSA should hire local players for the big tournaments if the government is not permitting Indian coaches to come to the country.
Shahzad added that despite the defeat, the players got enough practice for the Asian Championship as the two-week camp begins tomorrow for the event in India.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.
Cueists Mohammad Sajjad and Imran Shahzad blamed the series loss to Iran on the absence of a coach after Pakistan went down to the hosts last week.
Both the players felt that the defeat has forced them to adopt a different approach towards the Asian Snooker Championship 2011 that will begin from April 23 in India.
Pakistan lost to Iran by 17 points, Sajjad managed 11 wins out of 15 matches while Shahzad and Pakistan number one Mohammad Shahid won five matches each.
“The Iranian cueists were well trained and that made the difference,” Sajjad told The Express Tribune. “Although we were more experienced, they have coaches like the English player PJ Nolan, whereas we relied on our instincts and natural ability.”
According to Sajjad, the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) should hire a coach for the local cueists and revamp the facilities if they want positive results in international tournaments.
Meanwhile, Pakistan number two Shahzad said that the PBSA should hire local players for the big tournaments if the government is not permitting Indian coaches to come to the country.
Shahzad added that despite the defeat, the players got enough practice for the Asian Championship as the two-week camp begins tomorrow for the event in India.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.