07 September 2004	Tuesday	21 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Sept 6: Failure at Athens Olympics has prompted former hockey greats to suggest radical changes in the national squad with an aim to prepare for major events rather than focus on instant but insignificant victories.

Stalwarts including Anwar Ahmad Khan, Abdul Rashid Jr and Hanif Khan on Monday strongly urged for immediate damage control steps by showing the old guards the door and infusing fresh blood as apart of build-up to 2006 World Cup in Germany and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The former stars were of the view that Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) should go for a new-look squad, starting with changes in the team before this month's home and away series against India and December's Champions Trophy in Lahore.

Anwar, a celebrated centre-half, said banking on over-the-hill veterans would be a sugar-coated pill and would spoil the future of hockey in the long run. "I can't understand why our goalkeeper Ahmad Alam conceded those two goals against Germany. Centre-froward Kashif Jawwad, defender Ali Raza, centre-half Waseem Ahmad and captain Mohammad Nadeem and Ahmad were unimpressive and won't be able to play for another four years.

"If we play the Europeans we will achieve tremendous exposure, but what we get by fielding our team against the Indians. It will only be fruitful in strengthening friendly relations but a time wasting exercise if we speak in terms of enhancing the skills," he said.

He suggested including new faces in the senior side by giving a free hand to the coach and not the selectors or anyone else. "Only coach, who is an independent person, should be responsible for selection," he claimed.

The Olympian did not agree that coach Roelant Oltmans was responsible for the 4-0 thrashing by Spain after which Pakistan failed to reach the semifinals and finished fifth.

Anwar said that a statement by director general of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Brig Arif Siddiqi that coach was responsible for the loss defied logic. "If the coach was incompetent, then why Pakistan thrashed South Korea 3-0 and Great Britain 8-2.

Since team captain Nadeem has openly admitted that the team lost as players failed to execute the plans chalked out by coach against Spain, then how one can hold the coach responsible for the failure.

"The DG PSB should explain what he was doing in Athens and why so many freeloaders were in Greece at the expense of public exchequer. Could the Director General explain why we did not win a single medal in events other than hockey," he asked.

Rashid, a former centre-forward, suggested showing aging Nadeem, Ahmad, Ali Raza the door to make room for the youngsters who would gain exposure for the 2006 World Cup and could not fare more badly than the veteran players.

"Nadeem could not even communicate with his team-mates on the field and was appointed captain. The way Ahmad conceded two goals against Germany suggests his eyesight is getting weaker.

I think even a blind goalkeeper could have saved those goals. I do not understand why Ali was included in the squad as he was hardly fielded during the Games," he remarked.

Former captain Hanif felt that Ahmad, Nadeem and Ali had no place in the team as not only the age was catching up fast but they were now a spent force. "Apart from Ahmad, Nadeem and Ali, Shakeel Abbasi should also be shown the door as there is no place for players who involve in individual play, while Tariq Aziz and Adnan Maqsood were unimpressive too. If PHF wants to revive the game, it must start preparing for the World Cup and Olympic now."