Hockey: ‘Junior team’s chances bleak’

Hockey manager doubtful of good show at International event.

KARACHI: Pakistan junior hockey team manager and head coach Rana Mujahid is not optimistic about his team’s performance at the upcoming six-nation Sultan Johar International Junior Hockey Championship that will be held later this month in Malaysia.    

The probables are currently attending a training camp at the Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi to prepare for the event which will be played from November 11 to 18. Other teams participating in the event are Australia, Germany, India, New Zealand and Malaysia.

Mujahid said that while the team was working hard, he sees little chances of a winning performance due to lack of key players who have been called to the seniors’ camp.

The players in question are Umar Bhutta, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Tauseef, Kashif Shah and Ali Shan.

“I don’t have any high expectations from my team due to the non-availability of vital players,” said Mujahid. “The present players are not at par with the standards expected of an international team.

“They have limited international exposure and expecting good results from them won’t be realistic.”

Meanwhile, the team management will follow the same format as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for the junior team selection.

“The team management will name the junior team according to the new format.

“The announcement will be made on November 5.”

Elsewhere, the Pakistan senior hockey team started preparations at the new astro-turf at Johar Town in Lahore for the upcoming back-to-back events in Australia.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2012.