It is only natural that in any competition, someone will finish at the bottom. The result, as such, is not a shock. But the team’s loss of every single game is an indication that Pakistan Hockey has touched a new low
IT was the Independency Day last week when I went down the memory lane to re-live some of the magical moments that Pakistan Hockey had produced over the years, earning titles, medals and trophies, but more than everything else, winning laurels for the country, adding to the sense of national honour that are so vital to the task of nation-building. But ironically, it was on that same day, Sunday, August 14, that our hockey team ended up fourth in a four-nation tournament in Germany. The contrast between what Pakistan Hockey used to be in its glorious years and what it is like today could not have been more vivid, more graphic, more painful.
Regardless of what the nation was led to believe by officials of Pakistan Hockey Federation, there was little doubt in the minds of those following the game’s downfall in the country that the team could make little impression on the twin tour to Germany and Holland. Since the Hamburg masters tournament featuring Pakistan, Germany, Holland and Australia was not duly covered by the national media, I find it in the fitness of things to first briefly talk about what happened there before venturing into any kind of analysis.
The tournament, played on a single-league basis, was won by Holland after it remained the only unbeaten side among the four, with 3-1 and 6-5 victories over Australia and Pakistan, and a 2-2 draw against Germany. Australia remained in contention till the very last because it would have been at the top had Germany beaten Holland in the last match of the tournament. They would have been ahead of Holland on the basis of goal average, for they had +5 in the kitty against Holland’s +3.
Pakistan, in contrast to Holland, was the only side in the tournament with not a single victory against its name. Worse still, they did not manage even a drawn game. As such, having remained fourth in the four-nation outing, they of course did not make it to the victory stand, but what came as a brutal shock was the fact that they did not even feature on the points table because they lost all the games that they played during the tournament. This is as disgusting as it could get. Pakistan lost its first game to a young and new-look German side 1-3. The defeat could be seen in proper perspective when you have a look at what happened to the same German side in its game against Australia, which beat the Germans by six goals to nil, the biggest victory margin in the entire tournament. That Pakistan could not even play a draw against such a young, inexperienced bunch of novices confirms the impression that the coaches, the team management and, indeed, the PHF have no strategy or vision to counter the European game plan.
In its second match, Pakistan lost to Holland 5-6. When the team returns, I am sure this match will be quoted by the team management as a close encounter and the nation will be advised to take heart from the fact that Pakistan lost after a lot of fight. But, before taking heart, let’s first have a look at two simple facts. One, the Dutch side had run up a 5-0 lead before Pakistan came back to make it 5-4. It then became 6-4, and stood at 6-5 when the final whistle was blown. Anyone who has played hockey at any reasonably competitive level would know that with a 5-0 lead it is time for a breather for your frontline players who are then replaced by bench reserves. That Pakistan could capitalize on the situation is laudable, but it should not be blown out of proportion. Two, at no point in the game, the Dutch had the services of its main players, like captain Jeroen Delmee and penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema.
Pakistan lost its last game 3-4 against Australia, leaving it without a win and a goal average of -4, having scored nine goals in the tournament while conceding 13. The fact that almost all match reports mentioned and appreciated Salman Akbar’s performance under the net suggests the team would have suffered a lot more embarrassment had the goalkeeper’s performance been as bad as that of the rest of the team.
In a four-nation tournament, some side had to take the fourth position. It was only natural. That Pakistan was the most likely outfit to take the wooden spoon was also a strong possibility even before the start of the tournament. So, that was not a shock either. But the team’s utter failure in making any impression, and in managing even a single draw, despite fielding the tournament’s most experienced side in terms of international exposure, is an indication that Pakistan Hockey has touched a new low.
The PHF had made much of the team’s bronze medal at the Azlan Shah Cup, but the readers would recall that I had repeatedly made the point that the bronze has to be seen in a realistic context because it had come in a tournament which had no European outfit. The way Pakistan Hockey has been managed over the last few years has brought the national game to such an unfortunate pass where we have absolutely no idea about overpowering the Europeans. Earlier, we used to have problems with Holland and Germany, but now we are facing problems against Spain, England and even Belgium. This hurts. It really does.
IT was the Independency Day last week when I went down the memory lane to re-live some of the magical moments that Pakistan Hockey had produced over the years, earning titles, medals and trophies, but more than everything else, winning laurels for the country, adding to the sense of national honour that are so vital to the task of nation-building. But ironically, it was on that same day, Sunday, August 14, that our hockey team ended up fourth in a four-nation tournament in Germany. The contrast between what Pakistan Hockey used to be in its glorious years and what it is like today could not have been more vivid, more graphic, more painful.
The tournament, played on a single-league basis, was won by Holland after it remained the only unbeaten side among the four, with 3-1 and 6-5 victories over Australia and Pakistan, and a 2-2 draw against Germany. Australia remained in contention till the very last because it would have been at the top had Germany beaten Holland in the last match of the tournament. They would have been ahead of Holland on the basis of goal average, for they had +5 in the kitty against Holland’s +3.
In its second match, Pakistan lost to Holland 5-6. When the team returns, I am sure this match will be quoted by the team management as a close encounter and the nation will be advised to take heart from the fact that Pakistan lost after a lot of fight. But, before taking heart, let’s first have a look at two simple facts. One, the Dutch side had run up a 5-0 lead before Pakistan came back to make it 5-4. It then became 6-4, and stood at 6-5 when the final whistle was blown. Anyone who has played hockey at any reasonably competitive level would know that with a 5-0 lead it is time for a breather for your frontline players who are then replaced by bench reserves. That Pakistan could capitalize on the situation is laudable, but it should not be blown out of proportion. Two, at no point in the game, the Dutch had the services of its main players, like captain Jeroen Delmee and penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema.
