PHF sends Ramazan diet plan, training schedule to players

KARACHI: The head coach of Pakistan hockey team Olympian Khwaja Junaid has said that a new diet plan and physical exercises and hockey skills training programme have been sent to all the probable players of senior and junior teams keeping in mind the holy month of Ramazan.

Around 48 national senior and junior teams probable players are following training programmes sent by the PHF. Talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday, the head coach said that there was need to change the training programme keeping in mind that the players would be fasting during Ramazan.

“We have told them that they can take under 2500 calories, 1000 in Sehri and 1500 in Iftar. They already know what foods contain how much protein and how much fat and how much carbohydrates,” he added.

He said they can take fruit, vegetables, curd, whole gram, chapattis with any dish and also rice. “But we have told them to avoid deep-fried items like samosa and pakoras. They can have a little of these things on alternate days,” he added.

Junaid said the players have been told that they must drink at least 1.5 litre water every day besides milk and fruit juices. He said that it would be after a very long time that the players would be home during all Ramazan. “Therefore, it is necessary for all of them to follow the diet plan provided by the team management,” he said.

He said that the diet plan had been made with the consultation of expert nutritionists. About the timing of physical exercises and hockey training, Junaid said that it would be better for them to do physical and hockey training before Sehri or just before Iftar. “But they can also do these things from 9pm to 10pm,” he added.