Juniors’ volleyball camp in Feb

KARACHI: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) plans to hold a joint camp of its Under-20 and Under-18 national lots next month in Islamabad to prepare them for Asian events to be held within next few months.

“Yes we have decided to begin preparation for the Under-20 and Under-18 Asian events from next month. We had earlier told the government to hold our camp but I don’t know due to the Board’s restructuring issue I think the things are getting delayed,” PVF chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob told ‘The News’ on Thursday.

Pakistan will feature in the 20th Asian Men’s Under-20 Volleyball Championship in Esfahan, Iran, from June 21-28, 2020. It will be followed by the 13th Asian Men’s Under-18 Volleyball Championship in Manama, from July 7-14. Besides these two under-age events Pakistan senior team will field in the AVC Cup to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, from August 22-29.

“Yes the AVC Cup is very important as top eight outfits from Asia will be part of it. Having seventh standing in Asia we will also be there,” Yaqoob said. But the biggest issue currently is that Korean coach Kim Kyoung Hoon, which recently coached Pakistan in the 13th South Asian Games in Nepal, has been relieved of his duties. “You know he was sitting idle and we thought that it was not good to spend money without utilising his services,” Yaqoob said. The Korean had enabled Pakistan to a second-place finish in SAG when they were downed by India in a gripping final.

However Yaqoob was quick to add that he was busy seeking a foreign coach. “We are even pursuing an Iranian coach. He is good but let’s see what happens as it all depends on the financial aspects,” the official said.

Money has been a major issue in the way of hiring a foreign coach for volleyball which is the fast-rising sport of the country. Iranian coach Hamid Movahedi had put Pakistan’s various age-group and senior team on sound footings but financial issues prevented PVF from extending his contract that inflicted a major blow on the PVF’s plans.

However professional league is expected to assist the sport in the right way. And Yaqoob said the league is being delayed. “The league, which we wanted to launch early this year, has been delayed till September-October because the parties with which we were communicating will be busy in the PSL and other commitments and so they have sought some time. But definitely it is in our plans this year InshaAllah,” Yaqoob said.

However Yaqoob was quick to add that before that the PVF would try to hold a couple of national level events in grand way.

“But in the time we have at our disposal we will try to hold a couple of national events on the pattern we had done last year in Lahore and that will create a sort of attraction as well. Lahore will host one and more likely Karachi may host the next,” Yaqoob said.

Yaqoob is satisfied with the way talent is coming up, hoping, if things get settled once Pakistan can rise to any height.