Islahuddin wants matches against European sides

ISLAMABAD, Nov 24 (APP): Olympian Islahuddin Siddique on Tuesday urged the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to organize the junior team’s matches with the European sides in order to prepare them for the next years’ Junior Hockey World Cup in India.
Islahuddin, under whose leadership Pakistan won the 1978 World Cup,said by seeing the performance of the junior team in the recent Hockey Asia Cup, I can say our team, stands at No 2 position in Asia as they lost the final to India making them No 1.
“Pakistan junior team will have to put up a lot of hard work against
European sides as No 2 in Asia means still a long way to go,” he said.
He said PHF should now organize the team’s matches against
Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and other European sides in order to
groom and improve their talent.
“A total of 20 to 25 matches should be organized for the team against
these sides,” he said adding we have played much against the Asian sides and now PHF’s only focus should be the Europeans.
Islahuddin, who played between 1967 and 1978, said no fight was seen
by the team in the final against India.
“Our goal-keeping department was very poor and needs improvement,” he
said.
He advised PHF to organize a goal-keeping camp to improve this
department.
“PHF should call in the expertise of Shahid Ali Khan, Mansoor
Ahmed and Ahmed Alam for the camp,” he said adding the full-backs should
also be called in for the training camp.
He said after this the PHF should focus on to improve the seniors as
they are the ones who are lacking very behind.
“Senior tournaments, camps etc should be conducted to improve their
skills,” he said.