‘Weak reception let us down,’ says Pak volleyball skipper

KARACHI: Pakistan volleyball captain Naseer Ahmed has said that the country failed to click in the Asian Championship in Indonesia due to weak reception.

“The reception was too weak and that hurt us badly,” Naseer told ‘The News’ in a detailed chat after returning from Indonesia where his side finished 12th in the 16-team championship.

“If you don’t have fine reception, how can your setters get the ball,” said Naseer, who plays pro league in Lebanon.

He said that three years had been wasted because of conflicts among sports bodies. “A fine combination was prepared but it was broken because of the tussle among officials,” Naseer said.

“In the current team we have a few youngsters who need some time to learn skills for tough challenges. If the same team is properly groomed it will start clicking after two years,” Naseer added.

He said that the only solution to the problem was a pro league. “Unless you start your league and players earn money improvement cannot be brought,” he pointed out.

“There has been little activity at home and it is also a big hurdle. If a league is introduced it can produce fine stuff,” he said.

He said that Pakistan direly needs money for lifting this sport. “There is abundance of talent in Pakistan but the sport needs money. Chaudhry Yaqoob is doing a great job, managing money for the team’s tours and other matters. It is not easy for anyone to run a federation without substantial state support,” the skipper said.

Naseer said that the authorities would need to work at the grassroots level. “I have told Chaudhry Yaqoob to focus on schools, especially private schools from where you can get talent,” he said.

About Iranian coach Hamid Movahedi, he said he had trained the team well. “He (Movahedi) trained the team well but it could not click in Indonesia,” Naseer said.

Hamid’s services have been hired for six month s. His contract expires next month, but the volleyball authorities intend to extend his contract.

Naseer said that he would always be available for national duty. “If Pakistan needs my services I will be there,” he said.

He added that he would go to Lebanon at the end of this year to play their pro league. “I will insha Allah go to Lebanon in December for the league. It is four months long,” the skipper said.