LAHORE - Pakistan hockey team coach Khawaja M Juniad termed the final phase of training imperative for finalising the team for the London Olympics.
Talking to the reporters here on Tuesday, he said: “We are going to enter the most crucial phase of our camp in which we will be drawing up a balanced combination for the London Olympics 2012.”
He said now they had ample choice of selection as some veteran players are also part of the final phase of training after attending fitness back up camp held here recently.
“In our training at the hilly centre, we will fully concentrate on erasing the weaknesses noticed in the tour of Europe besides knowing the exact strength and fitness level of our players, irrespective of being senior or junior, to come up with a squad which is equally good of fetching desired results in the mega event,” said the former Olympian.
Junaid said the team management under the able guidance of manager and chief coach Akhtar Rasool was striving hard to lift the level of team’s performance and the camp at a cooler place aimed at imparting some serious training to the players.
To a query, he said that in the training camp, efforts would be made to get the experience with youth after the return of some veteran players.
“It is not reverting back to include veteran players in the camp but it is a way to improve team’s performance because as long as these players are fit enough and satisfy the team management and the selectors they can be a part of the team,” he said.
“We have some talented young players with us, then middle age players too and of course, we have some veterans as well who are rich in experience and can be mentors for the youngster players,” he said.
Junaid refused to predict team’s chances in Olympics and said he did not want to make tall claims. “The team is a talented combination and the way our players performed in the Europe tour, they have the potential to beat any top hockey nation and I pray to Allah for their success in Olympics,” he concluded.