THERE are less than two months to go for the Champions Trophy. It is difficult to say what the PHF management may be thinking in terms of the team’s chances at the prestigious tournament. The general mood among hockey-lovers in the country is to bring down the level of hopes and expectations.
That, for sure, is one way of avoiding disappointment. Those running the PHF — more importantly the team management — are not that lucky though. They are answerable and accountable to the nation for the deeds and the misdeeds of the team. On their part, the only way to avoid disappointment is to make the team perform batter on the field. They basked in glory when the team lifted the Azlan Shah Cup, and ran for cover when they were demolished recently in Australia. Where the team goes from here will depend on the homework done by the PHF and the team management.
But what is it that they need to do? After all, it is up to the players to deliver, right? Wrong, and I tell you why. Players do tend to follow their natural inclinations and tendencies without realizing the negative effects on the team. Since they happen to be in the thick of things on the field, only those sitting on the fence are able to see and assess the overall flow of things. And it is the duty of the team management and the Federation bosses to make these assessments and do what is required to set things right.
Take, for instance, the case of Pakistan centre-half Mohammad Saqlain. He leaves his position readily, moving to left or right depending on the field action. In principle, he is supposed to play in the designated centre-half corridor that involves the area from the two poles on one side of the field to the two poles on the other side. This leaves a huge gap in the middle of the field, and that naturally goes against the team.
The fact that too many field goals get scored against Pakistan is a clear indication of a centre-half missing from his place. He is supposed to take care of all the crosses coming from either of the flanks, and if he fails to do that, it becomes a free hit for the raiding forwards. The goalkeeper, in such a situation, becomes a mere spectator, and one can’t find fault with him, for no one expects him to block a blinding shot on a moving ball from just ten, twelve metres. The best he can do is to hope for the opponent to be off-target, but that does not happen often in international hockey.
The composition of a hockey team is enough to tell you that the top priority is to make your defence impregnable. The goalkeeper and the two full-backs represent the deep defence. Then come the midfield of three. The defence, thus, involves six of the eleven players, while there are five forwards. In fact, some of the modern teams have done away with the fifth forward and raised the number of midfielders from three to four.
This shows the importance of strong defence in hockey. You first have to put your house in order before going on the attack. There is no fun in making three or four good moves, but then conceding a goal on a countermove from the opponents just because a puffing centre-half could not make it back in time, leaving ample space for the forwards to make merry with. An aggressive centre-half only finds the egg on his face. Worse still, he lets the team down.
While the player is guilty of doing the wrong thing, it is the task of the team management to detect the flaw, and discipline the centre-half, or, for that matter, any erring individual.
The problem with at the pivotal centre-half position is continuing for a long time, and needs to be taken care of at the earliest. I could have talked a lot more about more individual positions, but since the PTV once again failed to telecast the matches for Pakistani audience, I leave it to some other time when the PTV bosses may decide to have mercy on us.
THERE are less than two months to go for the Champions Trophy. It is difficult to say what the PHF management may be thinking in terms of the team’s chances at the prestigious tournament. The general mood among hockey-lovers in the country is to bring down the level of hopes and expectations.
