Coming to the Olympics, the one aim that every team harbours is winning the gold. Pakistan is of course no exception.
Following the European tour, Oltmans’ boys have been under severe criticism from those who say that winning the gold will only be a matter of miracle for the green shirts. Still, it isn’t fair to completely write off the Pakistani team before such a grand event.
Our first objective is to reach the semi-finals in Athens. It’s never easy when the world’s top 12 sides are competing for the top honours. Even Egypt is not an easy rival. We will have to play top-level hockey if we are to go for the gold.
During the European tour Pakistan failed to achieve the desired results. They conceded 26 goals, scored 29 and lost badly to Germany and Holland.
In my opinion, players are in the right physical and mental frame and are eager to prove their potential in the next two weeks. Victory in a three-nation tournament in Spain, just before the Olympics will provide the team an ideal chance to warm up for the mega event.
Pakistan has enough talent to clinch a medal at Athens, provided its individual brilliance is translated into team-work.
I feel the three-time gold medalists have enough firepower to regain Olympic glory that has eluded them in the last four Games. The squad is well-balanced and has a combination of both experience and youth.
Teams like Holland, Australia and Germany are strong contenders for the title, but no side can be called clear-cut favourites.
We have some world-class players and I think we can easily reach the semi-finals if we play as a team and according to plan. Tactical work-out is required to iron out these creases and more importantly, the players must stick to the game plan. They must also score regularly from penalty-corners, as it is an important aspect of the game. Forward Mohammad Nadeem Alam will lead Pakistan.
Pakistan is in the toughest of the two groups alongside world champions Germany, Asian champions South Korea, Spain, Egypt and Great Britain. Group B has defending Olympic champions the Netherlands, India, Australia, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.
Pakistan finished third in the Olympic qualifying rounds held in Madrid, earlier this year. Pakistan, winners of Olympic gold medals in 1960, 1968 and 1984, have seen their hockey form slump in recent years. Their last Olympic medal was a bronze in Barcelona 92. They finished fifth in Atlanta in 1996 and fourth in Sydney in 2000.
I am confident of our hockey team. Players will show good performance with their potential and capabilities by putting in their efforts.
The three-nation tournament featured Pakistan, Argentina and Spain. Pakistan finished on top with a draw against Argentina 2-2 and a win against Spain 3-1, while Spain claimed second spot with a win and a loss and Argentina was third with a draw and a loss. The team has shown tremendous improvement physically. The mental strength shown by them in the match against Spain was remarkable. Pakistan beating Spain 3-1 in their homeland was not an easy task.
Today, Pakistan kicks of its bid with probably the toughest of matches, that against Germany. We have a very good chance of winning this match as traditionally, Germany always start the tournament on a bad note. They then gradually settle into the momentum. If Pakistan win their first match, it would stand a very good chance of qualifying for the semi-final.
Sohail Abbas is our main weapon. However, even he concedes that all the players would have to give their utmost and play like a unit to bring back lost glory to their country.
Pakistan’s goal-churning machine and penalty corner expert, Sohail has 247 goals from 201 international matches. He needs just 20 more goals to match the world record held by the legendary Dutch striker Paul Litjens. He is tipped to be one of the stars of the field hockey event with his ferocious goal-scoring penalty corner conversions that are known for sending shivers through rival camps.
