16-May-2012
National training camp commences
Daily Times
LAHORE: A short duration national hockey training camp for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup started at National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday with newly appointed captain Sohail Abbas vowing to inspire the team to success in his first assignment as skipper. “It is a big challenge for me to play a significant role in motivating the team in my first assignment as a captain. I am confident that I will be able to justify the responsibility given to me,” he told reporters yesterday. As many as 12 players reported on the opening day of the camp that will end on May 17 when the team will leave for Malaysia on May 18. The six members of the team, who are with the junior team that played in the Junior Asia Cup, will join the senior squad in Malaysia while the selectors have included defender Aamir Shahzad in the outfit raising its strength to 19 from 18 members.
“I am honoured that I have been appointed captain of the team and its like a dream come true. I will be doing my best to live up to the expectations,” said Sohail. He described the team a good combination of young blood blended with some experience and hoped that youngsters would make their presence felt by putting up a good show. To a question, he said Sultan Azlan Shah Cup would be played on blue turf and adjusting on new colour plastic surface would be a bit difficult for the players. “But we are going well ahead of the tournament and we will be having four training session prior to the start of the tournament. And I am sure in that time period our players will adjust with the new colour of the pitch,” said Sohail.
Chief coach and former Pakistan captain Chaudhary Akhtar Rasool said that the short duration training would help in ending the flaws of the team. “We are aiming to prepare the team for the London Olympics and we are following a step by step programme to strengthen the side. Participation in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and then the tour of Europe will help in overcoming team’s weaker areas,” he maintained. The team official said the immediate task ahead of the team was to perform to a higher level in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. “After some training at home and with the joining of junior players in Malaysia we will be launching our full fledged preparations there and hopefully we will be gaining good results in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup,” added Akhtar.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/ |
