Working for rugby: Singaporean coach impressed with Pakistan’s dedication

Ismail Kadir conducted level-one coaching course, praises female participants’ enthusiasm

KARACHI: Rugby is yet to become a mainstream sport in Pakistan, and the Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) is working day and night to see the day the game attains unprecedented heights in the country.

The PRU recently conducted a level-one course in collaboration with Asian Rugby Union educator coach Ismail Kadir of Singapore, which was attended by two female and 22 male coaches in Lahore.

Kadir, who was on his third visit to Pakistan, was impressed with the women’s passion for rugby and their eagerness to learn all they can about the sport.

“The women were asking the right questions and were keen on enhancing their rugby know-how,” Kadir told The Express Tribune.

“While PRU certainly needs more manpower to promote the game, they are on the right track.”

According to Kadir, rugby is generally perceived as men’s domain due to its rough and strenuous nature, so the female players and coaches’ enthusiastic involvement helps bust the long-standing myth.

PHOTO COURTESY: PAKISTAN RUGBY UNION

The official last visited Pakistan in 2010, and said he has seen massive improvement after that gap of five years.

“Pakistan is now involving schools, colleges and even the rural populace, so they are going in the right direction with the ‘Get into Rugby’ programme,” said Kadir.

Meanwhile, Faiza Mehmood Mirza, one of the participants and a rugby coach in the Beaconhouse School System in Islamabad said she wants more female players to come forward in the sport.

“It’s the most watched sport in the world after football. It’s time for Pakistani women to step up in this field too,” said Faiza.

The coach explained that she and the other female participant, Shazia Shabbir, who is the captain of the Pakistan rugby team as well, learnt the basics in the ‘Get into Rugby Programme’ along with two other courses with Kadir. The women were also invited by Kadir and the PRU to observe the level-two programme that featured only male coaches.