November 17, 2006	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, Nov 16: Pakistan’s hockey manager-cum-coach Shahnaz Sheikh on Thursday said he would be quitting the post after the quadrennial event in the Middle East.

“Asian Games will be my last assignment and I will not be able to serve as Pakistan coach because I have a few professional commitments with my employers, PIA,” the Olympian told Dawn.

The former Pakistan forward was called up by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) after a series of pathetic performances under Asif Bajwa who stepped down following the team’s poor finish at the Champions Trophy in Madrid besides reports of a revolt against him by the players earlier this year.

Shahnaz, who initially was assigned to coach the national side for the World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany in September, was later given an extension by the PHF which requested the former Olympian to carry on with his duties for the Asian Games.

But despite his plans of leaving the coach’s job after the Asiad, Shahnaz said he will be available after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “I can’t sail in two boats at the same time. It will be hard to give time to national hockey while performing duties with PIA. Therefore, I have decided to completely focus on my assignment in Jeddah which ends in August 2008.”

With his sights on Doha Games, the manager was hopeful about Pakistan making it to the final, likely to contested against South Korea, who proved to be the most competent Asian outfit at the World Cup almost a month ago.

For Shahnaz, though, the Malaysians are the first hurdle for national team in reaching the final. He feels once his side overcomes Malaysia in the opening match, they will be through to the grand finale without much effort.“Although I am sure we will be reach the final and will probably play South Korea there, but first we have to tackle the Malaysians in the Games. It will be very important game for us. Once we do that, I am quite sure that we will be playing the final,” Shahnaz remarked.

The coach, however, refrained from making any predictions about Pakistan winning the gold, saying that reaching Games’ final would be his major objective which would enable Pakistan to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

“The main aim is to see my team making it to the final so that we can win an Olympic ticket. But I can’t say for sure who will win the gold. It will all depend on the day,” said Shahnaz.

Pakistan, for the first time in Asian Games history, returned empty-handed four years ago from Busan Asian Games.

This itme, the green shirts have been placed in pool `A’ along with Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, while previous Games runners-up India are in a pool `B’ alongside Bangladesh, China, Oman and defending champions South Korea.

To bolster brittle Pakistani defence, Shahnaz is trying both 3-2-3-2 formation and 4-4-2 system to counter the opponents, especially speedy South Koreans and traditional rivals India.

Shahnaz suggested that the PHF should stick to the present bunch of youngsters rather than banking on ageing seniors who opted to play in foreign leagues rather than reporting for national duty.

“I must say the present lot is the future of Pakistan. Those five players (Mohammad Saqlain, Sohail Abbas and others) are now history and should never be considered like the PHF president has already said. All the present players need is international experience and they will be good for several years to come.”

Shahnaz said he had advised PHF to hire full-time, paid and professional team management to yield better results in future and added he would also be submitting a “coaching manual” to bring uniformity in coaching.

“I am preparing this manual and will submit in a month or so. It will be about new techniques, rules and modern skills. It will bring uniformity in coaching patterns, both at senior and junior levels, and help players to learn quickly without feeling too burdened.”