UEHC team all set to tour Thailand
dubai — The United Emirates Hockey Club (UEHC) is all set to tour Thailand later this month as they look to progressively ramp up their pre-season preparations.
The club has named a 20-strong party for the fortnight-long trip (July 30-August 13), which will see them play in three friendly matches and a one-day tournament organised by Bangkok’s Pakistan Sports Club.
The tourists are understandably looking forward to their excursion east, where it’s hoped they’ll receive a timely fillip confidence-wise from performing well out on the pitch and that the overall experience will strengthen ties between players and clubs and help promote hockey.
“We’ve got quite a line-up of matches over there,” explained UEHC chairman Ahmed Al Sayegh at a press conference to announce details of their forthcoming tour.
“We’re looking at each game much like any other; it’s a challenge. A good team can lose or win on any given day, so you cannot dictate that aspect of the sport.
“Thailand does have good hockey players. We’ve played there before and they have some formidable teams, but we hope to have a good tournament over there. “We’ve got a good team and we can play good hockey. It’s a very balanced side and everyone knows their responsibilities. It’s just a matter of blending on the day when it is required.”
Chief guest Thosaporn Moonlasartsathorn, the Consul General of
From left: Abdul Hameed, Thosaporn Moonlasartsathorn, Ahmed Al Sayegh and Haider Ali at the Press conference at Grosvenor House. —
Thailand to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, added: “I’d like to thank all of the participating members at the United Emirates Hockey Club for choosing Thailand as their home for their upcoming tournament.
“I hope everyone enjoys our hospitality in Thailand and I wish all of you the best of luck and success. I especially hope that this team from the UAE beats everyone and brings back the trophy to this country.”
The UEHC team will be spearheaded by a ‘jewel’ in attack, star forward Abdul Waheed, whereas highly-skilled goalkeepers like Prabhakaran
KT photo by Mohammad Mustafa Khan Biju and Waleed Akhtar shall look to keep the ball out at the opposite end of the pitch.
There’s also a wealth of experience provided by wily veterans such as Raza Abidi, Safdar Cheema and Farooq Hikmat, which could well come in handy as at least three players – Jamil Bostan and Hardeep and Karanpreet Singh – stand by to make their tour debuts for the club.
The UEHC squad for their upcoming Thailand tour is as follows: Ahmed Al Sayegh (Captain), Muhammad Safdar Asim (Vice Captain), Sohail Rafique Butt (Coach), Muhammad Halwachi (Manager), Waheed Abdul Hameed (Media Coordinator), Sayed Muhammad Raza (Tour Coordinator), Prabhakaran Biju (Goalkeeper), Farooq Muhammad Hikmat (Outside Right), Karanpreet Singh (Inside Right), Aamir Sohail (Centre Half), Tahir Ali Shah (Right Half), Aqeel Ahmed (Outside Left), Vivek Pacardo (Left Half), Muhammad Sheraz Khan (Inside Left), Akhter Mahmood (Right Fullback), Jamil Bostan (Centre Forward), Yasir Shehzad (Right Half), Zubair Riaz (Fullback), Waleed Akhtar (Goalkeeper). LONDON — With reports suggesting that going at Ascot racecourse has changed from good to soft, ahead of the King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Group-1 on Saturday, trainer John Gosden turned a brave face regarding the most awaited sixth appearance of his unbeaten Classical colt Golden Horn.
“I think he will be all right if it’s good to soft, but we will be in unknown territory on soft ground.
Golden Horn has had four races this year, but he’s thriving. He has a great attitude and he takes his races very well. He has a wonderful constitution and I think he will run well again,” he said.
“Until we know what rainfall they get and how the ground is it’s hard to make any predictions. The key thing is they’re all in very good order.
“With regards to Golden Horn, it’s hard to say (how soft ground would affect him). He won his maiden on the easy side of good, but since then he’s seen nothing but really fast ground. He hasn’t raced on it, so we’ll have a walk of the track and see how it looks for him,” Gosden said.
The ground had been good to firm Friday but with more rain forecast it is likely to ease further in the build-up to Saturday’s Qipco-backed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Speaking before the event, clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: “We’ve had quite a bit of rain since 10am and so we’ve changed the ground. We’ll monitor how much more it rains and see how it rides.
There are rain showers forecast right through until Saturday morning and it is forecast to be persistent and heavy at times.”
Godolphin will be represented with Romsdal who has always been regarded as a classy recruit for the team. Trained by John Gosden and partnered by William Buick, the Halling colt finished third to Australia in the 2014 Derby and second to Kingston Hill in the St Leger at Doncaster later that season. He has given every indication that he retains his ability, and track conditions should bring him right into contention.
Flintshire is another Middle Eastern representative in the 10-runner field. Owned by Prince Khalid Al Abdulla, trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Vincent Cheminaud, the five-year-old son of Dansili has been a very reliable Group One horse internationally, as stable companion Snow Sky (Sir Michael Stout / Pat Smullen) is on the upward climb though he can hardly expect to find it as easy tactically as when he won the Hardwicke, while Postponed (Luca Cumani/ Andrea Atzeni) appears in the colours of Shaikh Mohammed bin Obaid Al Maktoum with form suggests that he could be placed.
I think he (Golden Horn) will be alright if it’s good (surface) to soft
John Gosden