3
-File photo
KARACHI: Probables for the Olympic Games will be finalised in a week’s time, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa told reporters on Friday.
“We would be holding extensive training camps for the players before finalising the squad for the Olympics,” he said.
“Our focus is to provide maximum training and coaching to help players remove their deficiencies.
“The probables need to harness their skills and improve in various areas of the game,” Bajwa emphasised.
Commenting on the selection of veteran forward Rehan Butt, the PHF official said the selectors and chief coach were evaluating his form and fitness in order to decide his fate.
He said the PHF was planning longer camps for the probables in Europe and elsewhere. “We would also be trying to arrange matches for them ahead of the Olympics,” he stated.
Meanwhile, chief selector Hanif Khan said they would be picking around 30 to 35 probables from which the national squad would be chosen.
“Personally, I want long training camps for the players which will help them improve their scoring power, defence and stamina,” Hanif underlined.
“It’s important to work on the grey areas of the team. We will not comprise on fitness of the players,” Hanif stated.
It is interesting to recall that Pakistan’s chief coach Michel Van Den Heuvel wanted more international exposure for the players prior to the London extravaganza.
After arriving here to witness the National Hockey Championship, Heuvel had said that Pakistan needed to play around 20 to 25 international games to be in better shape for the Olympics.—APP
i recall the golden days of pakistan hockey when Rtd. Air Marshal Nur Khan and Atif were at the helm of the pakistan hockey affairs. These two were not only very strict in discipline but were at the same time very close to all the hockey players. Lest we find an another combination like them to bring pakistan hockey out of the present sorry state of affairs.
@micheal warner. Mate go and have look in the last 12 year what Micheal has done as a coach in Holland. he has won the dutch league 5 times. he has been the coach of several top dutch clubs. before he went to coach pakistan he was the national coach for dutch mens team.
so please stop telling nonsense storys. Inshallah pak wil perform wel in London. He is a very good coach if we have fair selection in ahallah we wil do wel.
Pakistan’s chief coach Michel Van Den Heuvel is a "D" league player development coach in Holland. This coach is not even considered to be on the "A" league player development. So PHF stop talking about the coach. Besides PHF you have no shame at all to continue spending the dollars by holding camps for players in the parts of Europe. Is it just to accommodate the coach. Seriously, last time the training camp was held in Holland for the national team, and the result was that the team lost Commonwealth games, Champions Trophy, Azlan Shah Cup, Asian hockey and so on. Sack PHF for unnecessarily wasting several dollars to just keep the players away from criticism.