Pakistan's Iranian volleyball coach eyes good show in AVC Nations Cup

Pakistan senior volleyball team’s Iranian coach Rahman Mohammadirad is a worried man. And it's not because his charges are getting ready to feature in the AVC Nations Cup, which gets underway in Manama (Bahrain) from Tuesday (tomorrow).

He is worried for his family back home because of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

“The situation in Iran is not good, as you know, especially, in Tehran where my family is also living. Until last night, I was really worried about them but finally we could find someone and moved them out of Tehran as in my neighborhood there were more attacks,” Rahman said.

“My son, especially, was afraid. We had this experience two months ago in Islamabad also due to Pakistan and India tensions and again it happened for us in Tehran. I hope everything is finished as this war is not good for anyone. Normal people are suffering so much,” he said.
“I am in regular contact with my family and fortunately they are in safe place right now,” Rahman said.

However, Rahman has a more positive view of Pakistan's chances in the AVC Nations Cup, stressing that his players were in a better shape and will live up to the expectations in the event.

“In the camp, some players were sick and they could not train but now everybody is healthy and they are in fine shape," Rahman told Nukta in an exclusive interview from Manama.

Rahman, who is serving Pakistan for the second time as head coach, said that they have worked hard on grey areas during the last seven days of their training.

"In the last seven days we worked on our weak areas after we analyzed our previous matches in CAVA event in Uzbekistan. It was interesting that we were the best team in CAVA event in block and service. We had some problems in the side-out, the way to receive, set and attack. In those seven days we worked on this zone to ensure we attack strongly especially the moment that we don't have a good reception. What I see from the motivation of the players I believe the team is now in good shape,” he said.

In the AVC Nations Cup Pakistan have been bracketed in Group C with Chinese Taipei and Philippines.

Pakistan will face Philippines in their opening match on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Hosts Bahrain, Indonesia and Thailand are in Group A, Qatar, Australia and Kazakhstan form Group B while Group D contains South Korea, Vietnam and New Zealand.

Top two teams from each group will move into the top eight in the event which will be played at the Isa Bin Rashid Hall at Manama.

In the CAVA Nations League in Uzbekistan, Pakistani team did not do well in pressure situations and lost a few crucial points and Rahman hopes that this time they will do better in this zone also.

"I agree with you that players must be mentally strong and they have to fight for each ball. They should not look into the scoreboard and should work for each point and we will see inshaAllah more improvement in this area in the AVC Nations Cup here," Rahman said.

Responding to question relating to importance of international friendlies before any such event Rahman: "Always this is a problem."

"In 2021, we went to the Asian Championship without any friendly matches and recently we went to CAVA event without any friendly matches. Before the Nations Cup we contacted Bahrain, Qatar and Turkey but they were busy. Korea played two friendly matches with Holland, Qatar went to Japan before entering the event, Bahrain played with Korea and Australia were in Bahrain before Nations Cup. But, unfortunately, this is a big problem for us. You know there may be sponsorship and financial issues. I hope when good results will come sponsors will rush and this will help the national team to get ample exposure,” he said.

Best in Asia

Rahman wants his charges to be among Asia’s top teams.

"Why I am here for second time? I have the experience to work with the national team before. In 2021, when I was Pakistan coach, we changed many players. In that time Musawar Khan was 18-year-old, Murad Khan was new while Usman and Afaq did not play at that moment. Since then, the PVF has been investing in these players. Why I am here for the second time because the PVF wants a change. We want to go to the next level and want to be among leading Asian sides like Iran, China and Japan. We need to change some players in this national team and we will need to be patient and we will need to give chance to the young blood,” Rahman said.

“In the CAVA Nations League we took Jibran, the middle blocker. He is an under-19 player and got a very good experience. But unfortunately, we could not bring him here because of injury. I was really happy that we had these young players who gained experience. Changing the generation is important. We also have this situation in Iran. They are bringing in young potential and giving them the opportunity to play against Brazil and Ukraine and so they are gaining experience. On some positions in the national team, we need quality players. I always say that we have to make a combination comprising experienced and young players we have,” he said.

"InshaAllah in the Islamic Games we plan to give chance to young blood. We have good potential as our Under-19 team finished third in Asia and now is going to the World Championship. We have good talent in these teams which we can add to the national senior team,” Rahman said.

Responding to a question Rahman recalled that they did not train well for the Nations League held in Uzbekistan recently due to multiple issues.

"You know we were supposed to play hosts in the CAVA Nations League but the event was shifted to Uzbekistan due to tense situation between Pakistan and India. And it made for us very difficult to get ready inside 20 days and I think it's difficult to go out of Pakistan; I mean to take a permission and to get visas so in those 20 days the team did not train well because of such problems," he said.

"In the CAVA Nations League, first of all I have to say sorry to our fans as head coach and as a team. Immediately after the match I sent this message to our fans that losing against India was a big mistake and I hope they forgive us as they know that we could not play well in that game," Rahman said.

"Really at this moment I don't give excuses and off-course no one wants to listen that thing. And that event has passed and generally as a matter of fact we ended third in Uzbekistan but CAVA event’s standard was much better this time. It carried teams like Iran B team, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan."