Coach John Goulding hopeful of players’ best performance in Baseball World Cup qualifiers

By Adrees Malik LAHORE – Pakistan baseball team coach John Goulding, a US national, is hopeful of the team’s best performance in the World Cup qualifying round after 15-day special training and coaching program under him. His 30-day stay in Pakistan will conclude on September 5. The Pakistan baseball team was ranked 23rd in early years of its journey and now it eyes the World Cup main round. Talking to 92 News on Monday, John Goulding said: “Superb mind and brave heart are mandatory to play a game in an excellent way. Pakistani players have the second quality which is basic ingredient to become the best team.” He said that he is fully satisfied with the talent and skills and the players have the potential to face tough teams like Brazil, England and Israel in the World Cup classic qualifying round 2016 staring in New York, USA, from September 22. The coach is of the view that the team as compared to the opponents in the qualifiers lacks professional players. “Each team has 4-5 professional players from different major leagues, but I know the potential of the Pakistani players. They will definitely surprise the fans in the qualifying round,” he said. On the other hand, Pakistan Baseball Federation president Syed Khawar Shah said that Goulding is doing very good job and the boys are learning fine points of the game with every passing day. He said that he had already applied for an NOC as the government permission was mandatory. “I am hopeful that we will receive the NOC soon to take part in the World Cup qualifiers.” Pakistan will face Brazil on September 22. After the success, they will face England or Israel on September 23.