Pakistan’s volleyball team coach, Issanaye Ramires Ferraz, a Brazilian national, was moved to tears of joy after his team, affectionately known as the “Men in Green,” secured a resounding victory over South Korea with a score of 3-0, advancing them to the quarter-finals of the Asian Games 2023.
The pivotal match took place on September 22 in the Round of 12 stage, where Pakistan exhibited dominance from start to finish. This extraordinary win earned them a spot in the quarter-finals against Qatar, igniting immense excitement among fans.
A video capturing Ferraz’s emotional reaction went viral, revealing the coach in tears during a post-match interview. He commended the players for their unwavering commitment to the game, stating, “There is no dimension to victory; you have no idea what these guys do to come to the court. It’s very difficult, very difficult, but we knew it was possible.” He went on to praise their dedication, physical prowess, and concentration.
Ferraz, who had previously achieved similar success with the Bahraini team in the Asian Cup, emphasized the importance of meticulous planning and preparation, highlighting the players’ exceptional focus during the crucial match.
The historic victory came with scores of 25-19, 25-22, and 25-21, with Usman Faryad and Murad Khan emerging as standout performers, contributing 20 and 18 points, respectively.
This triumph marks Pakistan’s return to the top six teams in the Asian Games volleyball competition, a feat not achieved since the 1994 Asian Games. Pakistan’s remarkable journey began with convincing victories over Chinese Taipei and Mongolia, securing their position as group B leaders.
Despite Qatar’s hard-fought 3-1 victory in the nail-biting quarter-finals, Pakistan’s performance in the tournament has been nothing short of remarkable.
Pakistan Squad:
- Abdul Zaheer
- Hamid Yazman
- Farooq Haider
- Murad Khan
- Murad Jehan
- Mohammad Hammad
- Musawar Khan
- Nasir Ali
- Usman Faryad Ali
- Mubashar Raza (captain)
- Mohammad Kashif Naved
- Afaq Khan
Officials:
- Issanaye Ramires Ferraz (coach)
- Naseer Ahmed
- Ihsan Iqbal
- Armin Golkari (video analyst)
- Lucas Ferreira Rodrigues (trainer)
- Saeed Ahmed Khan (manager)
Pakistan’s remarkable journey in the Asian Games 2023 has reignited hopes for a bright future in volleyball and has garnered immense pride and support from the nation’s sports enthusiasts.
