PHF to hold camps to avoid rustiness

Pakistan’s next assignment is in March.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is planning to hold a series of training camps in order to keep players involved during the off-season.

While most of the national team players will be taking part in the inaugural edition of the Hockey India League staring next week, the ones left behind will be asked to attend the camp, according to a PHF official.

Pakistan’s first assignment this year is the Azlan Shah Cup, that will be held in March.

“The series of camps will start with one specifically planned for goal-keepers,” said the official. “The schedule is yet to be finalised but the purpose is to utilise the free time to avoid rustiness in players.”

Pakistan’s goal-keeping coach Ahmed Alam said that the camp was likely to start in the coming few days.

“The goal-keepers’ camp has to be wrapped up before the start of the National Junior Championship in Faisalabad on January 29,” said Alam.

“The available goal-keepers from the senior and junior teams, besides the ones from the PHF academies, will be picked for the camp that may be held in Karachi.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2013.