ISLAMABAD, April 14: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) is planning to hire a new foreign coach and will organize an international tournament in August.

The secretary of the PVF, Maj Muhammad Afzal (retd), said PVF had asked for bio-data of qualified coaches from China and Bulgaria. He said the Ukrainian coach, Fyodor, had flown back home immediately after the 9th South Asian Federation (SAF) Games were cancelled a few days back since his contract was to run till this event.

“The PVF is in correspondence with Pakistan Sports Board to hold Prime Minister’s Gold Cup international volleyball tournament in August,” he said. “The tournament will most probably be held at Liaquat Gymnasium if the arrangements are satisfactorily finalised,” he said.

“This tournament, if it materializes, will help us gain useful international exposure before the Asian senior championship,” he said.

The championship, to be held from Sept 4 to 16 in China, will be participated by 16 countries.

The official said a national youth training camp was also to be started at Liaquat Gymnasium from the first week of next month as part of the PVF’s talent hunt programme. Trials will be held to select 20-22 boys for the camp.

“I have been to Peshawar and will also watch the Punjab Under-16 championship that commenced at Faisalabad on Monday, to help select the players for the camp,” the official said.—APP