ISLAMABAD - As many as 56 players assembled on the first day of trials conducted here at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium on Friday, to select Pakistan junior team for the upcoming 5th Sultan of Johor Junior Hockey Tournament to be played in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from October 11 to 18.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) doesn't bother to inform the journalists about the trials. When the Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) president visited Naseer Bunda stadium and launched a strong protest with head coach Tahir Zaman and the entire selection committee, Tahir and co apologized and promised next time it would not happen.
Meanwhile, the PHF, showing over-efficiency, immediately issued a press release about the trials. The federation must stop double standards and inform the journalists well before time so that they could perform their official duties and show rest of the world about Pakistan hockey. PHF newly-elected president Brig (R) M Khalid Sajjad Khokhar appointed Brig (R) Khalid Mukhtar Farani, SI (M), as manager of Pakistan junior hockey team. Farani will take care of the administrative affairs of the junior team.
Talking to The Nation, head coach Tahir, who is being assisted by Irfan Senior and Zeeshan Ashraf, said: “As many as 90 players have assembled at the first phase during the open trials, and 56 were shortlisted. Now they will undergo trials for two days and final 25 players will be announced today (Saturday). 20 players will be selected for the tournament, while five will be reserves.”
He said that the 15-day long camp would conclude on 23rd morning for Eid holidays and the players would report on 27th. “The full-fledge camp will start on September 28 with two sessions of training. The camp will likely to conclude on October 4 or 5 depending on booking of our tickets. We want to travel to Malaysia a bit earlier to prepare well before time and adjust to the conditions before the real event starts.” Tahir said they had arranged one practice match with Argentina national hockey team on October 10. “We are also in close contact with Malaysian authorities and trying to arrange two-practice matches with their national junior team. Things are in advance stage and nothing confirmed at the moment, but we are hopeful, we will be able to play two practice matches with Malaysian national junior team,” he said. Tahir said the juniors had no international exposure for the last one year and they didn’t play any international event. “The event in Malaysia will not be considered as result-oriented, as it is too early to expect over-the-moon performances from them. It will be a good experience and the juniors will get much-needed international exposure.”
“We have set our sights on the Junior Asia Cup qualification round also to be held in Malaysia from November 14. It will be the ticket for the Junior World Cup. Our main focus is to grab the World Cup berth and we are working very hard for it. My supporting staff is doing a marvelous job and we have detected a few brilliant junior players, who can become part of the national senior team in future,” Tahir concluded.