Asian, Oceania U18 Volleyball: Movahedi confident Pakistan will do well against New Zealand

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Iranian volleyball coach Hamid Movahedi on Thursday said that his youth side would try to offer good resistance to strong New Zealand in their group opener of the 12th Asian and Oceania Boys Under-18 Volleyball Championship in Tabriz, Iran, on Friday (today).

“You know New Zealand are very strong. Their players are physically very strong and are experienced,” Movahedi told ‘The News’ from Tabriz on Thursday. “We formed our youth team only last year and this is the first time that Pakistan is featuring in the youth event of the continent. But despite all this I am confident the team will play well in the opener against New Zealand,” he added.

Uzbekistan is the other side in Pakistan’s group in the 18-team event. Ahead of the game against New Zealand, Pakistan played four practice matches against Qatar, Oman, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. The Green-shirts lost to Oman 2-3, but won the rest of the three matches convincingly.

Movahedi said that practice matches were not very important. “The practice matches are not so important. Such matches only help coaches check the chemistry of the outfit and to see how it will work in the competition. But still it’s good that the team showed some grace and is ready for New Zealand test tomorrow,” the coach said.

He said that Qatar had toured Italy and played several matches there, while Oman and other sides too had prepared very well.He said that it would be a good experience for Pakistan to play at this level. “I think the event here will benefit Pakistan as these players are the future of the country,” Movahedi said.

The coach was very happy with the facilities which have been given to the participating teams. “The facilities are excellent here. Five-star hotels and fine food. Everything is amazing,” the coach said.

Four leading sides of the competitions will make it to the World YouthChampionships.Movahedi has trained the side for eight months along with national junior team which will feature in July in the Asian Under-20 Championship to be held in Manama, Bahrain.

The event is being held under a new format. Nine top-ranked sides have been placed in Division-1 which will fight for the four World Championship places.The remaining nine sides are in Division-2. The winners from there will qualify for the Division-1 next season. Pakistan are in Group B2 (Division-2).

Oman, India and Kazakhstan are in Group A2, while Qatar, Malaysia and Turkmenistan are in Group C2.In Division-1 Group A1 has Japan, South Korea and China, Group B1 carries Iran, Chinese Taipei and Thailand and Group C1 has Australia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.