KARACHI, April 9: While Pakistan hockey manager-cum-chief coach Islahuddin Siddiqui says four to five years are required to produce results, coach Manzoorul Hassan feels a year and a half is sufficient to raise formidable 2008 Beijing Olympics squad.

“In my opinion a year and half is enough to build the team for 2008 Beijing Olympics. We have enough time to experiment and raise the team for the all-important event,” Manzoor told Dawn at Hockey Club of Pakistan where 47 probables started training on Monday.

The probables, selected during the national championship qualifying rounds, are training for May 5 to 13 Azlan Shah Cup in the Malaysian city of Ipoh.

Manzoor’s opinion is in sharp contrast to what Islah has been saying. The chief coach has been vocal about the ‘insufficient time’ at hand for preparing the squad that could really deliver. Manzoor, however, says that events before the Beijing extravaganza will help him finalise the squad for the Olympics.

“We will have to wait and see how players respond during the tournaments before Olympics,” coach said. “But I personally believe that we will be able to prepare the team before Olympics.”

The invitational tournament has failed to attract top hockey playing nations this year. According to Islah, Ipoh will be a training ground this time only for minnows Ireland, Malaysia, Canada, Argentina, and arch-rivals India. Australia will be the only top hockey nation to be present apart from Pakistan.

But both Islah and Manzoor think otherwise, saying at this stage Pakistan can’t take any team as easy prey following Doha debacle at Asian Games last December.

“Teams at Azlan Shah Cup might look soft, but we have to take all of them seriously. No matter how good you have done during training, but only the team which performs well during the tournament wins,” Islah says.

Manzoor says since Pakistan are a battered side after 1-2 loss to underdogs China at Asian Games semi-finals, the rookies will be enjoying a psychological advantage over green shirts.

The former Pakistan full-back didn’t agree when asked if Pakistan would have an edge since oppositions would be taking them easy target after the humiliation in Doha.

The two former Pakistan captains, however, feel the Malaysian event and other activity during the year will give them ample opportunity to spot future players.

“I believe besides Azlan Shah Cup and other events will be a chance for us to try new players. But at the moment I can’t say whether the composition of the squad will be different to what it was in Doha,” Islah said.

Pakistan play a four-nation in August in China, some matches against Germany before Dec 1 to 9 Champions Trophy in Lahore.

Manzoor was impressed with the younger lot, saying players such as Abbas Haider, Mohammad Amin and Ishtiaq Ahmad, had tremendous talent. “Definitely there will be changes in the team in the time to come. It is a continuous process. And change in sports is good, for the betterment of the game.”

Team will be announced on April 23 after a two-day trials. The squad departs for Malaysia on May 1. Of the 48 invited for the camp, Asif Michael was the only absentee. The camp management says Asif has not informed about the reason for his absence.