LAHORE, Pakistan: There was a time in the 1970’s and early 1980’s when it seemed Pakistan’s hockey team was invincible, being at one time or another Asian, Olympic and World Champion. That halcyon period has long gone, and today the country is struggling to find its past form.
At the champions trophy tournament in Berlin recently, Pakistan finished fourth and there were doubts whether a viable team would be ready in time for the next World cup in Labore in 1990,
However being the host might spur Pakistan to higher things like Britain, which finished surprise runner up at the 1986 Wilesden World Cup. The immediate benefit of being host has been to spare Pakistan the potential embarrassment of playing in the 12 nation qualifying tournament that will produce the top five teams. Many fans say the history of hockey isthe history of Pakistan and India.
Pakistan won the Olympic gold in Rome (1960) Mexico City (1968) and Los Angcles (1984); it took World Cup tite in Barcelona (1971), Buenos Aires (1978), and Bombay (1982) and it scored Champions trophy triumphs in 1978 and 1980,
Lack of motivation ‘The reason for the slide to today’s mediCocrity is not difficult to fathom and revolves more around spirit than technique.
Previously big events drew the best out of national representatives who were motivated to fight every inch of the way. In players like centre forward Hassan Sardar, Ishlauddin Akhtar Rasool, Kallimullah, Hanif Khan and Mansoor Jr. Pakistan had ‘a team with sparkle and fighting quality reminiscent of the great Pathans.
Today these qualities are nowhere to be seen, At the Seoul Olympics it was expected that Pakistan being the holder would put up a brave fight. In fact the team failed to reach the semifinal.
Now the only major star is Shahbaz Ahmad and many are struggling to retain their places.
Constant changes in the team, new coaches lack of AstroTurf playing pitches
Being host of the next hockey World cup in Lahore in 1990 has spared Pakistan the problem of qualifying. But there’s no glossing over the lack of quality in that nation’s play and much must be done if Pakistan is to stand any chance of World Cup victory.
and an excess of politics within the Board have further robbed the national side of stability and direction.
The bulk of Pakistan’s players come from clubs like the Customs Services and banks with tournaments going on all through the year. This system was fine when the game was universally played on grass, but ‘now AstroTurf is the name of the game, and the high cost of laying artificial surfaces has been a substantial factor in slumping performances with players robbed of the necessary expertise,
Missing the main point Pakistan’s traditional rivalry with India, which enabled both in the past to reach high standards had negative effects recently. The two countries have become obsessed about beating each other for lesser honors instead of concentrating on the challenge of the Europeans and the fast changing style of international play.
‘Running through Pakistan’s hockey history is a pattern in which the country wins ‘one big event even though the team is going through a bad patch. The victory acts as a catalyst inspiring it to higher honors. Since 1984, however, that big victory has eluded Pakistan.
At best the difference between top hockey nations can be razor thin often coming down to stamina and lately the ability to exploit penalty comers.
If Pakistan wants to win the World Cup and get it back on the road to recovery, these are areas on which it must concentrate.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 8, 1989
