03 January 2004	Saturday	10 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 2: Pakistan hockey coach Roelant Oltmans on Friday did not promise a victory at Azlan Shah Cup but calling his side "The Green Machine" vowed it would take off this year.

"I hate to lose even if I play cards with my son. But at Azlan Shah I would be more interested in testing the players and making a formidable side for Olympic qualifiers and then the Athens Games," he told reporters at Hockey Club of Pakistan.

Pakistan are scheduled to leave on Sunday for Kuala Lumpur to defend their title at seven-nation Jan 8-16 tournament where world champions Germany, Australia, India, South Korea, Malaysia and Spain would be in fray. Although the Dutchman said he had just started and he was not after instant wins, he was hopeful his side would gradually improve this year.

"Pakistan team is a Green Machine that is going to function in a smooth manner and will show improvement slowly and gradually," the coach who returned today from The Netherlands after spending Christmas and New Year holidays, remarked.

Oltmans, 49, did not agree that oppositions in Kuala Lumpur would be having an edge over Pakistan since most of them would field their full-strength sides while his team is still going through experimentation.

"Other coaches would be having full-strength sides, but mine is a group of fine players. So there would be no psychological advantage or disadvantage in Kuala Lumpur.

"You can see my players' dedication, the commitment of that one who is practising," he said pointing towards penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas who was practising drag-flicks alone after the sessions - a scene never witnessed before.

Another significant change after the Dutchman took charge late last year, was the shirts the Pakistan players were wearing with word "Pakistan" on them. Previously, during sessions the team members used shirts displaying logos of foreign sports gear manufacturing companies.

The Dutchman said he was being guided by his deputy Tahir Zaman regarding the selection of players, but admitted at least there was one player who should have been in the squad.

"I have talked to Tahir and Hassan (Sardar) [junior team manager] about the players we have. I am the final authority in selection. But at least there is one player who I think should have been in the squad," he said without disclosing the name of the player.

The coach visibly seemed to be upset when asked why did not he announce the 18-member squad for the Azlan Shah Cup. "It was just because somebody announced the squad before me.

It is that simple," he said without referring Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) which announced the squad on Dec 19 without giving the coach a chance to brief the press.

He said there would be no changes in the squad announced earlier, although players like Sameer Hussain could be considered for forthcoming competitions. He had called up Sameer and Asim Khan after announcement of the squad.

Asked about the level of physical fitness of goalkeeper Ahmad Alam who did not take part in the sessions, the coach said he was once again suffering from "back pain" but hoped he would fully recover before reaching the Malaysian capital.

"Ahmad has been suffering from back problem since before last year's Afro-Asian Games in India. But he is fit and I think by the time he reaches Malaysia, he will be fully fit. He is very much in the squad. And if he is in the squad, it means he is fit."

Although the coach had not set Azlan Shah Cup as the winning target, he said Germany being the world champions would be toughest rivals, while South Korea, Australia and even India could not be taken lightly.

Oltmans said rather than focussing on the style of hockey he would be concentrating more on improving the grey areas, especially the defence.

"There is no such thing as Asian, European or Oceanic style of hockey. It is more important to tackle different teams with separate strategies and that is what I am going to do," he said.