“It is a good thing for the team because a special three-day camp will allow the players to understand their strengths and weaknesses,” the PHF secretary Asif Bajwa told The Express Tribune.
“The camp is designed to test the players’ physical fitness. Every player will be assessed individually as the coach will test their speed, stamina and physical limitations through equipment and machines that are not available here in Pakistan.”
Heuvel left for his hometown Amsterdam on Friday after the camp had concluded in Karachi. In his absence, assistant coaches Ahmed Alam and Manzoor Junior were supervising the practice sessions in Lahore.
Alam claims that he is constantly in touch with Heuvel and has been receiving instructions during the training sessions. “Heuvel had given us a schedule before he left,” said Alam. “We are continuing with the drills in the morning and in the evening. It is just basic physical training, but we are looking forward to the camp in Netherlands which will be a different experience.”
According to Alam, this training camp will be a learning experience for the players and the management since Heuvel will be administering the tour and will be getting help from the athletics department in Netherlands as well.
“Unlike Pakistan, Netherlands has a separate athletics department where the coaches have the facilities to test the player’s abilities with the help of physiologists. There are different kinds of technologies available there that can help us with video analysis and medical reports of the players, it is only after these tests we will know how fit out players are, “added Alam.
Heuvel plans to join the team in Spain for the Europe tour, as he could not directly travel with the team according to Bajwa.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2010.
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