Former Germany star Blunck to visit Pakistan

KARACHI: Germany’s former hockey captain Christian Blunck is arriving in Pakistan on Sunday (tomorrow).

Blunck was the captain of 1992 Barcelona Olympics winning team. He played against and with various Pakistani hockey players, including current PHF secretary Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed.

The former German captain is willing to help Pakistan in their efforts to revive the national game in the country.

Sources in the PHF said that Blunck was expected to participate in an exhibition match in Lahore on March 9. ‑‑‑

The former hockey great, also called “Budi Blunck” in the world hockey, wanted to meet those Pakistani players with whom he played and who are now running PHF. These include chief coach of national junior hockey team Tahir Zaman.

Meanwhile, the training camp of national senior team will begin in Lahore on Sunday. The training will continue for two weeks to prepare for Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament.

The selection committee has picked 50 players for the camp. They will gather in Lahore on Saturday (today).

The sources said that all preparations for the training camp had been finalised.

It may be noted that the national selection committee has discarded many senior players, including Muhammad Imran, who had been the captain in recent international tournaments.

The camp will start at Johar Town’s astro turf because national junior championship is going on at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, which ends on March 12.

The camp will shift to National Hockey Stadium on March 13.

The sources in the PHF also said that after completion of the national junior championship, a training camp of the juniors would start from March 15 at Johar Hockey Stadium.

PHF has also planned that after the training camps, the seniors and the juniors will play three matches in different cities.