Tauqir to leave as head coach after dismal World Cup

LAHORE: In the backdrop of national hockey team’s humiliating ouster from the ongoing World Cup, head coach Tauqir Dar on Friday said he is not interested to continue with the job and has conveyed it to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

Talking to media, Tauqir said as his assignment was only for the World Cup being staged in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar, he had conveyed to the PHF that he was no more available for the said job.

Pakistan, a former four-time World Cup winners who last clinched the global title back in 1994, miserably failed to break the jinx of the poor performances in Bhubaneswar as they crashed out in the second round and could not even win a single match out of four they played at the 16-nation spectacle.

Tauqir said he has asked team manager Hasan Sardar to advise the PHF to sack senior players and induct young blood into national team.

“If we have to face big 5-0 defeats at the hands of Belgium and the Netherlands with these seniors it is better to say goodbye to them and bring in new blood to prepare them in the next couple of years for cut-throat international contests,” Tauqir said.

Tauqir, a member of the Pakistan team which last won Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Los Angles Games, said he took charge as team’s head coach just 20 days before the World Cup as Hasan asked him to do so.

“I am quite satisfied with my work at grassroots level, running Dar Hockey Academy [in Lahore], and am not interested in any PHF post,” said Tauqir.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2018

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Comments (6) Closed

Aamir

Dec 15, 2018 10:58am

When we were in school, we used to compete in inter-schools competitions. Hockey was played in several streets and grounds, although even then most of the kids preferred to play cricket. I agree with Mr. Tauqeer that hockey needs to be developed at school level and young kids should receive hockey lessons and healthy diet. If we make this compulsory at school level, only then we will get the real talent. We are natural hockey players.

Recommend 0

Dec 15, 2018 01:35pm

I’d agree with Dar’s advice but things won’t change unless there is consistent serious effort made to bring the talent back into hockey. We need to also dump the ex-players from the PHF management who obviously do not have the management skills and vision to run and improve the infrastructure. I was disappointed to see Pakistan team lacking forwards with any pace to break the defense on counter attacks, barring Abu Bakr at times who got no support. Need youngsters who can atleast match the speed of other teams (even Malaysia and India shows pace in their moves) Hockey has become a very street smart sport and it seems our think tank still relies on old formulas to control the game which obviously doesn’t work anymore.

Recommend 0

Awarah Baadal

Dec 15, 2018 02:16pm

Coaching is mordern art. PHF engaged outstanding players from the past winning teams, who were promoted to the ranks of Manager or Coach of National team, where as they had no managerial skills. This contributed towards the rapid decline in the playing standards. When the Dutch coach was engaged who was impartial in team selection & immune to political pressures & interference from past giant players, the team spirit was revived. Players were selected on Skill & Endurance drives for the national team, Pakistan won its 4th WC in Melbourne back in 1994. Until & unless PHF do not invest in artificial turfs on college or club level, where youngsters can hone their skills, the results will always be the same. Changing the selection committees, deposing chairperson and ousting Presidents of PHF is not the answer to on going downward spiral of national sport. After all it is the performance of 11 players on the turf that counts, not the glorious past of committee members consisting of ex-players. Awarah Badal 12.12.2018

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 15, 2018 02:34pm

At least someone has the guts and the grit to take responsibility instead of pointing fingers at others amongst the ranks and columns of PHF. Well done Tauqir Dar. Keep it up and hang on tough.

Recommend 0

Shafi

Dec 15, 2018 03:55pm

If we have to face big 5-0 defeats at the hands of Belgium and the Netherlands with these seniors it is better to say goodbye to them and bring in new blood to prepare them in the next couple of years for cut-throat international contests----- Really really good advice. These seniors are nothing but a big burden to the team. Hopefully PHF will listen the advice, induct new young under 25 years of age players, get a foreign fitness trainer and get a hard working foreign coach who understand modern day hockey.

Recommend 0

Fareed N

Dec 15, 2018 07:40pm

He took the charge 20 days before the competition, obviously not much time to prepare the team. Pakistan has tried foreign coaches, ex Olympians as coaches. Nothing has worked. Watched Pakistan against the Netherlands, Belgium - a dismal performance by Pakistan, seemed high school boys playing against professional.

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