Dar Hockey Academy, a great nursery, has had four tours of Europe. It was Dar HA’s first tour of Malaysia, the great hub of hockey. Their hosts were the Asian Hockey Federation Academy in Ipoh, the capital of Perak state. The under-18 side had a challenging schedule. They had three matches against strong sides of the Perak state followed by the high profile inaugural AHF Inter Academy Tournament. All the matches were held at the famous Azlan Shah Stadium.

Malaysia is not only a busy international centre but also boasts strong senior and junior leagues. The junior league is arguably the most well-structured in the world.

Dar academy’s opening match was against the Anderson School, the biggest conveyor belt of hockey talent in the entire Perak state for a long time. A number of players from the school have represented the Malaysian national team. The Anderson school’s team for this match included boys who are part of the current Malaysian under-18 squad.

It was a good match but the highly talented Dar HA came out with a 7-3 win. Though the score line suggests a runaway victory, it was only 4-3 in favour of the Pakistani side when the last quarter of the 60 minute game began.

After winning the rain-shortened match against SERATAS, the Lahore-based academy faced the strong MBI, currently the highest-ranked Perak side in the Malaysian Hockey League (senior) and among the top 10 in the country.

MBI players have won frequent national selections. It was Men vs Boys. Under the floodlights, MBI went ahead within two minutes with a well-crafted goal. But the lads rallied magnificently and ran the experienced opponents ragged -- winning 6-2.

Next was the Inaugural AHF Inter Academy Tournament. Dar HA’s first opponents at the Azlan Shah stadium were National Sports School of Malaysia, Johor. One of two such schools in the country, NSS offers what should be the envy of an aspiring hockey player in any part of the world. The school picks up promising players of 12-13 years of age from all over Malaysia. The boys stay full time in the school.

They leave the NSS at the age of 19 after completing the school education. The team for this tourney included two current members of the Malaysian junior squad. It was a memorable encounter. Dar HA forged ahead in the 12th minute. Fierce contest ensued. With just five minutes left, the NSS turned the match upside down -- not only equalising but also getting the winner. Losing the opening tie in such a manner perturbed the members of the Dar HA contingent but not Danish Kaleem, the head coach. "The colts are here to learn. Now they are under pressure to make a comeback," he said.

His boys responded well in the next games and before the last match of the double league round, they had qualified for the final. Interestingly, the Dar HA again faced NSS in the final tie of the league -- again losing by a solitary goal.

The two sides met, for the third time, in the final. Just hours before the final, the Pakistani contingent received the shocking news of the demise of Mohammad Akhlaq, the 1992 Olympic bronze medal winner with the Pakistan hockey team. Akhlaq remained head coach of the Dar HA from its inception in 2008 till 2012, and played a major role in polishing so many academy players.

Dar HA was now more determined to win the title for the late coach. The team rose to the occasion and surprised everyone with its captivating display. NSS were completely outplayed. Despite missing a number of chances, the Pakistani boys won the final 4-0. It speaks of head coach Danish Kaleem’s confidence in his boys that the reserves were also fielded in the final, most of them for considerable periods of time.

Datuk Haji Azhar bin Ahmad, adviser to Perak state’s Chief Minister, who was the chief guest, was greatly impressed by the Pakistanis’ show. He invited the team management to his office in the CM secretariat the next day.

Dar HA played a total of nine matches on the Malaysian tour, winning seven. It must be emphasised that they faced quality opposition throughout.

It was well-earned party time during the last couple of days. Dato Haji Rahim, the chairman of the AHF Academy, happens to be the chairman of the Taiping Municipal Corporation. He arranged a wonderful day trip for the entire Dar HA squad at Taiping, one hour drive from Ipoh. The boys had a river cruise and visits to zoo and mangrove forests.

Officers from Pakistani High Commission visited the squad in Ipoh. They were also feted at a local Pakistani restaurant.

The Perak hockey officials have expressed their desire to send colts’ team to Pakistan to play a series of matches against Dar HA. Fascinated by the skills of the Pakistani teenagers, they are also interested in getting their players trained at the Dar HA in Lahore for a few months and also to recruit a couple of Dar HA boys to play for their team in the MHL.