Camp commandant of National U16 hockey camp, former Olympian Tahir Zaman said on Monday that 5-a-side hockey is a new experience for home players and they are showing rapid progress in the fastest version of hockey being played on short playing field.
“It is going to be a good experience for our side to take part in the 5-a-side Youth Cup in Singapore from April 4-7 and we are confident that we will be getting good results in the event,” he said here after a training session of the second phase of the camp along with coach, former Olympian Rehan Butt.
He said this format of hockey in which three halves of play will be played with each session of 12 minutes, players require to achieve unlimited stamina and mental toughness to cope with the pressure of high-pace game.
The first phase of training was held at Sialkot and thirty players attended and for the second phase 16 have been retained from which a final up of ten players will be selected for the voyage of Singapore.
Tahir Zaman said they are confusing on improving the attaching and defensive skills of the players and this objective is being achieved through trial matches.
“It (practice matches) is the best way to gage the individual talent of every player for picking up a talented combination,” he said adding “ through this format of the game we will be able to groom quality players for our junior and senior hockey teams because they will be more agile and fit, both mentally and physically , to deliver to best of their abilities.”
Coach, Rehan Butt said they will be selecting the team on merit so that every deserving player may get his due place in the side.
“It is thrilling version of high paced hockey and only those players matching highest standards of mental and physical fitness will be selected,” he added.
He said the tournament demands highest fitness level of players as the team will be playing two matches in a day. “ I think it is the best way to groom our next generation of hockey by imparting them latest coaching points.
