We don’t want Chinese coach: Volleyball team

Federation, players want someone from Iran.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s volleyball players remain opposed to the federation’s decision to hire a Chinese coach who is set to take up the position next month.

According to Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) Secretary Muhammad Afzal, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was involved in the arrangement after a MoU was signed by the two governments. The PVF had been on the lookout for a foreign coach since last year and a Serbian coach almost joined before the deal was scrapped owing to financial constraints.

“We wanted someone from Iran but that’s costing us nearly Rs4 million,” Afzal told The Express Tribune. “Now we’ve been told that we can only get someone from China so we don’t really have a choice but to accept whatever the PSB gives us.”

Meanwhile, according to Mazhar Hussain, who is part of the national squad, Chinese coaches will not be able to help Pakistan because the national team is a much better side compared to China’s. Hussain echoed Afzal’s views on the need of a coach from Iran.

“China may have better facilities but we have more talent and we understand the sport in a much better way,” said Hussain. “A Chinese coach can’t really help us because we play the game differently and are generally taller and stronger than the Chinese. We approach the game in a totally different manner to the Chinese and that’s got me thinking why we’re opting for a coach from China.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2012.