17 February 2004	Tuesday	25 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: Pakistan volleyball chief said on Monday that he was confident the national side could win a gold at next month's SAF Games in Islamabad.

"We are hopeful of winning the final because over a period of time our boys have improved," Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, chairman, Pakistan Volleyball Federation told journalists.

Yaqub felt that the current team was better than the one that bagged gold in 1989 by beating bitter rivals India when Islamabad last staged the SAF Games. "This team is better in defence, reception and setting." "In Irfan Nawaz we have the best setter Pakistan have ever produced, he has a lot of exposure and has played professional league."

Irfan, has represented the country in three editions of the SAF Games, the first time in 1993 at Dhaka when Pakistan claimed gold for the second time. He has also taken part in Asian Games and the Asian Championship four times.

Yaqub believes that if the substitutes who come on during the course of play, are able to put in the kind of performance that is a notch above the regulars, things would be easier in their bid to strike gold.

Pakistan and India, as always are the favourites to make the final and PVF boss said he was not underestimating the neighbours. "Their level has improved and the edge they have over us is that of centre blocker but we can counter that with quick play and attack."

Meanwhile, Pakistan are headed for the Iranian city of Tabrez to feature in the Al-Fajr International Tournament slated for Feb 21 to 23. The competition will have Azerbaijan and two teams from Iran.

Following the event, the national spikers will play four additional games against Iran and the entire outing will form part of Pakistan's preparations for the SAF Games due to open on March 29.

"We were looking for an opportunity to warm up ahead of the Games and since Iranian volleyball standard is a notch higher than ours, we thought the tour would do good to us," Yaqub said.

At home, Pakistan's preparations have gone off well under head coach Muhammad Baksh Javed and Farooq Ahmed. "They were initially looking after the physical aspects but now they are also working on improving skills of the players."

A new Bulgarian coach, Dimitar Hristev Marinov, is expected to join the team shortly. He replaces countryman Ivan Stefanov who went on leave but was unable to return.