Pakistan embassy in Belgium honours national hockey team

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2026) The Pakistan Embassy in Belgium hosted a reception in honour of the Pakistan hockey team, attended by members of the Pakistani community, prominent figures from various walks of life, diplomatic officials and players of the national team.

Pakistan's Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi warmly welcomed the players and officials at the event and encouraged the young players, calling them Pakistan's bright future, said a Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) press release issued on Tuesday.

Manzoor-ul-Hassan, chief coach of the Pakistan hockey team, thanked the embassy and the ambassador, saying the love, sincerity and professionalism shown by the Pakistani diplomatic staff in hosting the team since their arrival in Belgium was commendable.

He said the embassy had provided full guidance and care for the team from the moment they landed and that the players were deeply grateful to Ambassador Rahim Hayat and the entire embassy team for the respect and encouragement extended to them.

Addressing the gathering, the chief coach also spoke about the national team's current situation and the challenges facing young players. He said Pakistan's young hockey players were talented, but years away from major international competitions had visibly affected their confidence and brought added mental pressure.

He said Pakistan had not played at a Hockey World Cup or the Olympics for the past eight years, and it was natural for young players' confidence to be affected when they had fewer opportunities to compete against top-ranked teams.

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Manzoor-ul-Hassan said the current European tour was an important learning process for the national team, where players were gaining experience by playing consistently against some of the world's best sides.

"These matches are not just competitions for us but a complete learning process. Our top priority is restoring the players' confidence, strengthening them mentally, and preparing them to perform better under pressure," he said.

He said the coaching staff was paying special attention to players' mental training, self-confidence and stress management to help them prove themselves at the international level, adding that the team needed to regain its self-belief even more than it needed hockey coaching, since a player's ability shines through once they begin to believe in themselves.

The chief coach expressed hope that after playing eight matches against top European sides, the national team would overcome its weaknesses and deliver better results in the future. He said he had complete confidence in the young players, calling them the team that would define Pakistan hockey's identity in the coming years and once again raise the country's flag high on the world stage, adding that Pakistan hockey's bright future was not far off if the young players continued to receive opportunities, confidence and support.