Pakistani forward Rehan Butt and Indian defender Sardar Singh are the only two Asian players named in the 2010 World All-Stars team last Saturday. It was on the same day that the 30-year-old Rehan made his debut in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) for Sapura in a Premier Division match in opposition to Armed Forces Airod at the Tun Razak Stadium here.Rehan, who did not score in match, which Sapura won 7-2, said that it was an honour to be named a part of the World All-Stars side.“It is a big inspiration for my hockey career,” said Rehan, who hails from Lahore.“It has been a great year for me as I scored one of the goals in Pakistan’s 2-0 win over Malaysia in the final of the Guangzhou Asian Games (last month).
The win also gave us automatic qualification for the 2012 London Olympics, which could be my last task for Pakistan.”Rehan has played in two World Cups (2006, 2010) and two Olympics (2004, 2008), three Asian Games (2002, 2006, 2010) as well as three Common wealth Games (2002, 2006, 2010). He has a scored a total of 149 goals in 357 international outings.And the mean scoring machine will be out to fire on all cylinders to help Sapura win honours in the MHL.Rehan added that playing in the Malaysian league had been on his mind for quite some time and he was happy that it had become a reality
“I did not score in the first match and I hope to start scoring from the next match against (defending league champions) KLHC (Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club) on Dec 31,” he said.“It will be a tough match as KLHC have seven internationals and they will certainly go all out for a win after having lost in the Charity Shield match (0-2) to Tenaga Nasional (the defending overall champions) last week.”Rehan said that he has fond recollections of Malaysia as he scored nine goals in seven matches to claim the best player award in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in 2008.The MHL is the second foreign stint for Rehan, who played for Laren HC in the Dutch League in 2008.
The win also gave us automatic qualification for the 2012 London Olympics, which could be my last task for Pakistan.”Rehan has played in two World Cups (2006, 2010) and two Olympics (2004, 2008), three Asian Games (2002, 2006, 2010) as well as three Common wealth Games (2002, 2006, 2010). He has a scored a total of 149 goals in 357 international outings.And the mean scoring machine will be out to fire on all cylinders to help Sapura win honours in the MHL.Rehan added that playing in the Malaysian league had been on his mind for quite some time and he was happy that it had become a reality
“I did not score in the first match and I hope to start scoring from the next match against (defending league champions) KLHC (Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club) on Dec 31,” he said.“It will be a tough match as KLHC have seven internationals and they will certainly go all out for a win after having lost in the Charity Shield match (0-2) to Tenaga Nasional (the defending overall champions) last week.”Rehan said that he has fond recollections of Malaysia as he scored nine goals in seven matches to claim the best player award in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in 2008.The MHL is the second foreign stint for Rehan, who played for Laren HC in the Dutch League in 2008.
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