Hopes after Green Shirts’ Daring Display at the XVI Asiad
Field Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport. We have a proud tradition in hockey since independence. Apart from introducing some of the best players to the world of hockey we have given new ideas and innovations to the world governing body, International Hockey Federation (FIH). Like all other sports hockey is on a steady decline in Pakistan. We last won a major tournament way back in 1994 when we lifted the world cup in Sydney, Australia. Now having won the Asian Games Gold in Guangzhou can we hope for a revival in hockey and its bequest?
In the latest hockey rankings released in August 2010, Pakistan was placed in 8th position just behind New Zealand and one place above India. Under the tenure of current president PHF (Pakistan Hockey federation) Qasim Zia, a former Olympian and a leading Pakistan peoples’ party politician hockey declined steeply and every one lost hope of its revival in the near future. Constant changes in the team management, corruption, shoddy selection policy and poor performance of the team meant some miracle was required to put the things back in place. The secretary Asif Bajwa was particularly under the scanner of former players, media and public for undue indulgence in selection matters and allegations of financial mismanagement.
After Pakistan finished last in a disgraceful manner in the twelfth Hockey World Cup in Delhi. The whole team management was sacked but Bajwa remained untouched. All the team members stunned every one by announcing retirement after the humiliation. PHF started looking for a foreign coach and requested the players to carry on. Due to uncertain security situation hiring a foreign coach was a difficult task. Eventually a deal was struck with a Dutch Michael van den Heuvel for a hefty amount in Euros.
In a controversial manner the Dutch coach made the PHF accept his demand that the training camp for the Commonwealth and Asian Games should be held in the Netherlands. Pakistan finished poor sixth in the Commonwealth games in New Delhi, India. The Dutch coach immediately was under severe criticism and almost all the foreign greats slammed his appointment and his decision to hold the camp in his native country. In this background and atmosphere Pakistan departed for China to participate in the Asian Games. Veteran and record goal scorer Sohail Abbas was recalled in a bid to improve chances for a medal.
Pakistan trounced Hong Kong, Japan and Bangladesh in the pool matches but lost a nerve-wrecking close battle to India 2-3. It was their third successive defeat at the hands of the arch enemy. Pakistan faced the defending champions South Korea in the first semi-final. It was a tough match and Pakistan was the second favorite. Pakistan always plays well in china and with a gold medal in sights played like cornered tigers. Pakistan was put in to lead by Waqas Muhammad in the 22nd minute and ended half at 1-0. Kang Moon-Kyu drew level just after four minutes into the second half. Both teams tried their level best to score and seal the win but match ended 1-1. Extra time passed without a goal being scored. Pakistani defense played brilliantly and goal keeper Salman Akbar made some strong saves. Initial penalty shout-outs remained inconclusive at 3-3 and tensions mounted before sudden death penalty shots. The crowd was vociferous and TV audience in Pakistan was eagerly glued to their TV sets. Sohail Abbas of all people missed his shot but Jang Jong-hyun also saw his shot saved by Akbar. Haseem Khan put the ball in the post to put Pakistan 4-3 ahead. It was all resting on the shoulders of keeper Salman Akbar very much reminiscent of Sydney World Cup, 1994 where Mansoor Ahmad had saved the last penalty shot to win the world cup against the Dutch. Ang Jong-ho pushed the ball but it was not forceful and Salman Akbar was up to it. Pakistan had reached the finals. Every one in Pakistan was over-joyed and hopes for a gold medal became realistic.
An India Pakistan final was expected and there was an opportunity to avenge the previous defeats. But in a shock display India was eliminated by rampaging Malaysians who booked a date with Pakistan for their first ever final at the games. In the final Pakistan was all over Malaysia and scored through Sohail’s penalty corner in the first half. Rehan Butt virtually sealed the win by scoring off a cross from Shafiq Rasool. Malaysians missed many penalty corners and tried their best to score but it remained 2-0 till the final whistle. Players and officials burst in to delight when the match ended with many offering sajda thanking the Almighty.
Fans back home as well as hockey fraternity was all praise for the team. Former players congratulated and admired the players but stopped short of acknowledging the role played by Michael van den Heuvel. Soon they may realize that it was a right decision to appoint a foreign coach to bring new ideas in our hockey. There is a renewed hope for a hockey revival and surge in its popularity. This win should make the administrators work hard even more rather than sitting back and exploiting it for their political and monetary benefits. I hope the fans and the media will keep a close watch to ensure that.
In the latest hockey rankings released in August 2010, Pakistan was placed in 8th position just behind New Zealand and one place above India. Under the tenure of current president PHF (Pakistan Hockey federation) Qasim Zia, a former Olympian and a leading Pakistan peoples’ party politician hockey declined steeply and every one lost hope of its revival in the near future. Constant changes in the team management, corruption, shoddy selection policy and poor performance of the team meant some miracle was required to put the things back in place. The secretary Asif Bajwa was particularly under the scanner of former players, media and public for undue indulgence in selection matters and allegations of financial mismanagement.
After Pakistan finished last in a disgraceful manner in the twelfth Hockey World Cup in Delhi. The whole team management was sacked but Bajwa remained untouched. All the team members stunned every one by announcing retirement after the humiliation. PHF started looking for a foreign coach and requested the players to carry on. Due to uncertain security situation hiring a foreign coach was a difficult task. Eventually a deal was struck with a Dutch Michael van den Heuvel for a hefty amount in Euros.
In a controversial manner the Dutch coach made the PHF accept his demand that the training camp for the Commonwealth and Asian Games should be held in the Netherlands. Pakistan finished poor sixth in the Commonwealth games in New Delhi, India. The Dutch coach immediately was under severe criticism and almost all the foreign greats slammed his appointment and his decision to hold the camp in his native country. In this background and atmosphere Pakistan departed for China to participate in the Asian Games. Veteran and record goal scorer Sohail Abbas was recalled in a bid to improve chances for a medal.
Pakistan trounced Hong Kong, Japan and Bangladesh in the pool matches but lost a nerve-wrecking close battle to India 2-3. It was their third successive defeat at the hands of the arch enemy. Pakistan faced the defending champions South Korea in the first semi-final. It was a tough match and Pakistan was the second favorite. Pakistan always plays well in china and with a gold medal in sights played like cornered tigers. Pakistan was put in to lead by Waqas Muhammad in the 22nd minute and ended half at 1-0. Kang Moon-Kyu drew level just after four minutes into the second half. Both teams tried their level best to score and seal the win but match ended 1-1. Extra time passed without a goal being scored. Pakistani defense played brilliantly and goal keeper Salman Akbar made some strong saves. Initial penalty shout-outs remained inconclusive at 3-3 and tensions mounted before sudden death penalty shots. The crowd was vociferous and TV audience in Pakistan was eagerly glued to their TV sets. Sohail Abbas of all people missed his shot but Jang Jong-hyun also saw his shot saved by Akbar. Haseem Khan put the ball in the post to put Pakistan 4-3 ahead. It was all resting on the shoulders of keeper Salman Akbar very much reminiscent of Sydney World Cup, 1994 where Mansoor Ahmad had saved the last penalty shot to win the world cup against the Dutch. Ang Jong-ho pushed the ball but it was not forceful and Salman Akbar was up to it. Pakistan had reached the finals. Every one in Pakistan was over-joyed and hopes for a gold medal became realistic.
An India Pakistan final was expected and there was an opportunity to avenge the previous defeats. But in a shock display India was eliminated by rampaging Malaysians who booked a date with Pakistan for their first ever final at the games. In the final Pakistan was all over Malaysia and scored through Sohail’s penalty corner in the first half. Rehan Butt virtually sealed the win by scoring off a cross from Shafiq Rasool. Malaysians missed many penalty corners and tried their best to score but it remained 2-0 till the final whistle. Players and officials burst in to delight when the match ended with many offering sajda thanking the Almighty.
Fans back home as well as hockey fraternity was all praise for the team. Former players congratulated and admired the players but stopped short of acknowledging the role played by Michael van den Heuvel. Soon they may realize that it was a right decision to appoint a foreign coach to bring new ideas in our hockey. There is a renewed hope for a hockey revival and surge in its popularity. This win should make the administrators work hard even more rather than sitting back and exploiting it for their political and monetary benefits. I hope the fans and the media will keep a close watch to ensure that.
Published in SportPulse.Net
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