26 January 2005	Wednesday	15 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has acquired the services of a towering Chinese coach who has now arrived in Islamabad.

Secretary of PVF, Muhammad Afzal told Dawn on Tuesday that the 6ft 4inches tall Mr. Feng would be paid about $1200 per month and will be associated with the national team for more than a year.

Feng's immediate task will be to prepare the players for the forthcoming Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia followed by the Asian Club Championship in Islamabad. His other assignment this year will be the Asian Senior Championship in Thailand in September.

Meanwhile, the PVF is still waiting to hear from Kazakhstan whether they will take part in an international tournament here next month. "So far UAE, Kuwait and Thailand are confirmed entrants but we will wait till tomorrow for news on Kazakhstan," Afzal said.

If Kazakhstan do turn up, Pakistan would then field two teams in the competition slated to run between Feb 26 and March 3. "In case they are unable to make it, we will have only one home team and the tournament will be a four-nation event."

The PVF had also invited India and Iran for the tournament but both are not coming. The Indians wanted to send a young team instead of a full strength squad and were told by the organisers they could not do so while an Iranian request for a change of competition dates was also turned down.

The tournament is to be telecast live by Ten Sports - the first instance that an international channel will be televising an event being hosted in Pakistan, organisers said.