Pakistan Hockey team manager and chief coach, Olympian Chaudhary Akhtar Rasool said Pak team will get much needed practice and training at the blue turf for its participation in the Azlan Shah Cup in March in Ipoh, Malaysia. “We will be starting training at the newly laid blue plastic surface later this month and we are confident that our team will be fully prepared in all aspects prior to its participation in Azlan Shah Cup,” he said here on Thursday.
The former Pakistan captain, said the year 2013 is very important for Pakistan hockey as the team will be preparing for next year’s world cup to be held in June in Holland. “ We will be playing a lot of international hockey during the ongoing year and it will be beneficial for our training programme for the build up of the team for the Cup “,he said adding “ After playing in Azlan Shah our team will be taking part in the World League in Holland in June “. He said worlds top teams will take part in Azlan Shah and World League and participation in these two event will enhance the experience of the players. Akhtar Rasool said Pakistan team ended its campaign during the last year on a confident note by winning the Asian Champions Trophy and now the stage has come to maintain the flow of success by putting in more hard work and efforts.
“ As chief manager and coach I am under heavy load of responsibility as we are not only preparing the team but also selecting our teams which have made the task tough and challenging “,he asserted. The team official said with the laying of blue turf at Lahore famous national stadium Pakistan hockey will further grow as most the elite hockey events around the world are being played on this surface.
“ We are thankful to Punjab Government ,specially the Chief Minister, Moahmmad Shahbaz Sharif for extending help to install blue turf and patronizing hockey by announcing cash incentives for Pak team for its recent achievements and we strongly believe that it will give a big boost to the ongoing efforts of Pakistan hockey federation for the revival of the game “,said the former Olympian. He said Pakistan team is developing a culture of success and it is hoped that it will maintain it by showing productive results in the coming events.
“ We have almost 16 to 17 months for our participation in the World Cup and PHF has chalked out a comprehensive plan for the training of the team “,he said. To a question ,he said, politics should not be mixed with sports and efforts should be made to maintain true spirit of game. “ The protest of hindu activists party Shiv Sinha was unfortunate and it spoiled the participation of Pak players in Hockey India League “,he said. He urged the Hockey India authorities to take drastic measures to stop the happening of such incidents in future otherwise it will bring negative impact on hockey ties between Pak-India.
“ Pak-India bilateral hockey series are beneficial for the hockey of both the countries and it is in the larger interest of the game that politics should not be mixed in these events“,he said.
Pak team to take part in Azlan Shah Cup in March: Akhtar
