THE way Pakistan-India matches had gone since the last Champions Trophy, it was expected that Pakistan would be able to avenge the league-stage defeat that was inflicted on it by the Indians in the Afro-Asian championship. It was not to be, and, as it turned out, Pakistan lost both the games in which it was pitted against the Indians. By all standards, it was a poor showing.
While the performance of the team was not much to write about, shoddy as it was, what came as a matter of relief was PHF Secretary Musarratullah’s frank admission that there were problems with the team, and that he was not satisfied with the performance of either the defenders or the forwards. Such frank admissions are rare in our public life, and this has given us some hope that now that he has conceded failure, he will also do something to rectify the situation.
And when the boss has spoken, one hopes that he will make the players realize their mistakes as well, and not much different will be the case with the team management. Naturally, when all this happening, the future of Pakistan hockey will be nothing but bright and rosy. We will keep an eye on the national team in its future assignments, brimming with the hope that things will change in our favour in the international arena.
I have said this many a time before and take this opportunity to once again underline the importance of physical fitness in the game of hockey. The players are not just supposed to be fit, but more than hundred per cent fit if they are to deliver a worthwhile performance in a sustained manner. The national team’s record in the last one year is a clear indication that not enough is being done in this regard, which is surprising and unfortunate.
Australian, German, Dutch players — as also their counterparts in other European teams — happen to be naturally well-built. When they add to it, through extensive indoor and outdoor training, attributes like speed, stamina, power and endurance, their overall performance improves manifold.
In contrast, players in the subcontinent carry a frail physique, and in most cases they start working on body strength only after graduating up to at least the Pakistan Junior level, which is a bit late. Modern hockey is as much based on endurance and stamina as it is on skill and speed. If you are missing out on any one aspect, you have no hope of making it in the big league.
Pakistan does play better hockey than the four teams ahead of it in the international rankings, but it does so only in patches, which means that the performances fail to get converted into positive scorelines. The main reason why the players are unable to play good hockey at a sustained pace is their lack of fitness. If you are tired and moving on wobbly legs, your reception and onward transmission of ball becomes unsteady, you take time in getting back to the aid of the defence, you can still attack, but you are unable to handle the counter-attack. In short, you become a sitting duck.
