Former hockey captain Salman Akbar steps up to train junior goalkeepers

KARACHI: While the Pakistan hockey team is struggling to regain its lost glory, former captain Salman Akbar has stepped up to train junior goal keepers in country.

Akbar, country’s last gold medalist at Asian Games and former goalkeeper, told Geo.tv that he’s currently in Pakistan and feels that it is his duty to transfer his knowledge to youngsters.

“I think when I am in Pakistan, I should transfer my knowledge to goalies who deserve it. Whatever I am today is because of Pakistan and it is my duty to give something back to my country,” Akbar told Geo.tv from Bahawalpur, where he held one of his coaching camps on Saturday.

Salman has already held camps in Lahore and Bahawalpur where he trained goal keepers, and his next destinations include Multan, Vehari, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gojra and Karachi.

“There’s great talent of goal keeping in country, which needs a little fine-tuning,” he said.

The former captain added that he has taken this initiative on his own and no one from the Pakistan Hockey Federation asked him for any support.

“This was my idea and I am doing it at my own,” he said.

“This is to share my experience with goal keepers and help them improve their standards,” he added.

Salman’s initiative is being seen as a good opportunity by junior goalkeepers knocking at the doors of Pakistan national team.

“It was a great opportunity for me to learn from of the best goalkeepers in country. This type of activity was much needed for Pakistan hockey,” said Usman Ghani, who has also represented Pakistan junior hockey team.