LAHORE, Dec 11: Pakistan hockey team has potential to reach the top despite its another failure to reach the final of Hockey Champions Trophy in Lahore, said President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Gen. (Rtd) Muhammad Aziz Khan.
"It is not end of the road for national hockey and we are looking ahead" Aziz said at a presentation ceremony held to honour volunteers, sponsors, administrators, and media for making the event a success at National Hockey Stadium on Saturday.
"Personally I am not disappointed. Poor finishing and missing were the main cause of our failure. Luck element also eluded home team which plays a vital part in the outcome. But hockey was winner in general," he said.
He said boys are maturing and getting better with Asian and European technique.
"Winning and losing is not important. It's important that we successfully staged a mega international event," he added.
He said Pakistan got a bunch of juniors in the senior team and expressed that they would do well in Junior World Cup to be held at Amsterdam in July 2005.
Aziz said regular exchange of visits between Pakistan and India was very important which would benefit both neighboring countries for the uplit of sports particularly hockey.
Regarding, allocating more international events to Pakistan from International Hockey Federation (FIH), he said international body was restructuring the whole competition system around the globe.
He said he got positive response from FIH President Els Van Breda and hoped that Pakistan would be getting its share of international events.
To a question, PHF boss said while not ruling out options of a foreign coach, PHF now had its own bunch of FIH trained coaches.
Pakistan current Dutch coach Roelant OItmans' contract expires after the Champions Trophy.
He also stressed the need for training and coaches for boys at the grass roots level which was crucial for the development of Pakistan hockey.
Aziz said he wanted to see national and international sporting activities in Pakistan continue uninterrupted.-APP
