January 17, 2003	Friday	Ziqa'ad 13, 1423

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KARACHI, Jan 16: Pakistan junior hockey coach Ayaz Mahmood Thursday alleged that “over-age” players fielded by India at Under-19 event in Malaysia was one the reasons of his side’s defeat against the arch-rivals.

“Some of the Indian players definitely looked over-age. It is not only me, but the organizers also observed the Indians are over-age,” the coach said but replied in negative when asked did the team management lodge a protest.

Pakistan finished third in the four-nation Under-19 tournament hosted by the Malaysian capital involving Pakistan, India, South Korea, Malaysia’s seniors and a Under-16 side.

The national side thrashed South Korea 7-0 for the third place playoff. In their league games, Pakistan lost to India 2-0, drew 2-2 with Malaysia, routed Malaysian Under-16 6-0, and beat South Korea 5-0.

Although the coach was optimistic the juniors were fully capable of replacing the ageing seniors, he called for strenuous activity for his side, both at home and abroad.

“There are visible signs of improvement in the squad. We lost all the matches in last event in Cairo, but the game against India was the only defeat in Kuala Lumpur that was also because boys need exposure”.

Ayaz did not agree it was in the crucial match his side crumbled, while it performed better when confronted by comparatively weaker outfits — a tendency the senior team has also developed.

“I think the boys need a break. They are raw and played only 10 matches during the last four months since Sept 20 last year when the junior squad was formed. I can guarantee they will perform better after a year and half if given international exposure,” he remarked.

Ayaz had also complained about insufficient exposure earlier when Pakistan juniors returned from Cairo after finishing rock bottom without scoring a single goal in the four-nation tournament.

The present Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) hierarchy has been indifferent towards the juniors as it was only last September that a full-fledged junior squad was raised during the last two and half years.

Not only juniors have been neglected at the international level, but there is hardly any domestic activity except training camps and national junior championship.

Ayaz, however, said some eight players had potential and could switch over to the senior side after few years.

The coach predicted Mohammad Khalid, Mohammad Imran, Tariq Aziz, Asim Khan, Sajjad Anwar, Adnan Zakir, and Yasir Islam would become senior players.