‘International exposure essential for volleyball team’

LAHORE: A key player of Pakistan senior men’s volleyball team has said that the nation is on the way of progress in volleyball but warned that growth can only be “sustained” by keeping players engaged through international exposure.

“During the last few months boys got matches and they showed their performances in various events at the continental level. But this is not enough and we need constant international exposure and friendly matches and those too against the European teams,” the player told ‘The News’ in a detailed chat.

“Look, we will need to change our Asian style as well. If we talk about friendly games and if we request strong Japan it will refuse to field its senior team against us. But yes there are so many nations in Europe against whom we can compete on equal terms or they are slightly better than us so we can schedule matches with them,” the player said.

“I don’t remember that our senior team has ever toured Europe for the last so many years. Our women team is sent to Italy but men’s team is yet to get any such exposure,” the player pointed out.

Pakistan team last year delivered well in the Asian Games in Hangzhou and finished fifth under the then coach Issanaye Ramires Ferraz. In that event, Pakistan downed Korea. Korea immediately after that offered a job to Issanaye and Pakistan failed to keep his services. He was replaced by Ruben Wolochin of Argentina as Pakistan’s coach who handled the senior team during its recent international events.

Issanaye was a very good coach and he developed players’ skills and fitness and they did well in the Asian Games.

Issanaye’s hard work on the team made things easier for Ruben and it helped Pakistan win the Central Asian Volleyball League at home and a home series against Australia before finishing as runners-up in the Asian Challenge Cup in Bahrain recently.

“The development process requires exposure and this is the only way through which we can raise our standard,” the player said.

“If we cannot hold our own league or cannot play in Nations League and World League then at least we should be engaged through international friendlies,” the player said.

“Now look after a few back-to-back assignments players went to their homes, not knowing their next task and I wonder how they will keep their shape while resting at home as most of them belong to villages. It is impossible to get the sort of training facilities and they will get rusty,” the player said.

“Fitness is a big issue and even air-traveling too leaves a bad impact on a player’s fitness,” observed the player.

The player said that there is a need of major state support for the development of volleyball.

“If we aspire to progress and play in the Olympics then it will need a huge and consistent effort from the state, corporate sector and federation. We lack in so many areas and we will need to take the game professionally. If we don’t take it serious then nothing is possible and we even will not be able to build on our recent achievements even at the Asian level,” the player signed off.

Volleyball is the only team sport which has been doing a bit well in international circuit despite the fact that the country lacks proper infrastructure.

Although the state has decided to prepare Liaquat Gymnasium Islamabad by boosting its cooling system and adding relevant facilities to it, it is not enough and more gymnasiums are required in other major cities which could hold camps at the elite level.