LONDON: Any assessment of the Champions hockey Trophy at West Berlin last fortnight should be from the standpoint of the new alignment of forces that still symbolizes the elite of competitive hockey. In ways more than one, the nine day competition staged for the first time by the Federal Republic of Germany provided a refreshing flavor that added to the intensity of the contests.
Interestingly this was the first major hockey event after the Olympiad in Seoul and probably the only testing ground for the teams to evaluate their strengths before the showdown at Lahore in February next. That two, India and the Netherlands of the six are to qualify for the World Cup is a totally different matter. Jagbir Singh takes the Aussie defense phalanx by surprise with a delectable goal. Goalkeeper Noel goes sprawling on the ground even as the helpless Craig Davies (right) watches the ball entering the net. Then again, the tournament raised great expectations over the new rules to be implemented from June 1 this year but in the end the attitude of the umpires with regard to the changes, introduced an element of controversy that is viewed by many as the most embarrassing situation to the Rules Board. No Jess a person than Horst We in, the Chief Coach in the FIH criticized the manner in which the umpires chose to ignore the new provisions. “This is simply ridiculous,” he commented.
‘As things turned out they only showed how thin is the dividing line among the top six and underscored what consistency means in a high voltage competition like the Champions Trophy. If Australia’s return to the helm symbolized the strength of consistency, India’s bottom placing underlined the lack of it, Qualitatively evaluated, the degree of efficiency displayed by the participants often flowed on the plane of mediocrity.
Major Factor
Once again, conversion of penalty corners decided the outcome of contests and remains the major factor in the game. This is exemtistics but the charm of securing field goals, with remarkable ingenuity behind them, characterized the triumph of the Aussies. “They never dreamed of doing it” remarked an Australian journalist even as the team was celebrating it. His assessment probably stemmed from the fact that the team has never had practice for more than three weeks before the event. But the main factor was the change in the coach and there were doubts whether Frank Murray lacking the credentials of his predecessor, Richard Aggiss, was equal to the task. Pleased though he was, Murray was candid in admitting that the team suffered from many dark areas that should be sufficiently brightened before the squad enters the fray at Laplified by the success by Floris Bovelander of the Netherlands and Carsten Fisher of West Germany. The second and third placing of these two outfits were mainly due to the displays of these two. This may be true from the point of stahore as the defending champion. Australia’s fourth triumph in the 11 competitions played is a tribute to its youth content, So effective it proved that Murray gambled keeping Skipper Craig Davis out for the final game against the Netherlands and bringing in Keith Wark to support an equally inexperienced Michael York. What distinguished the Aussies from the rest in the competition was not merely the proficiency displayed by the frontline but the swiftness with which it was demonstrated. For sheer speed of movement there was none to match the 25yearold engraver from Brisbane, Mark Hager. Hager was a constant source of threat to the defense and even half a chance was good enough to floor the rival goal keeper. Andrew Deane at the right flank and Neil Hawgood on the other end, with Graham Reid providing the thrust from the inside left berth along with veteran Colin Batch putting in his experience, the attack carried too many guns for the opposition.
Midfield general
But all the harmony in the Aussie sallies could never have been possible or even profitable, if there has not been an energetic and enterprising centre half like Warren Birmingham. There was a trace of worry over his form at the start but once the event was put on boards, Warren was in his elements. The manner in which he controlled the midfield was a lesson to was picture of confidence when he dispatched the ball to the frontline making a thorough forecast of the move to develop.
Australia’s deep defense looked suspect in the earlier phase. The seasoned Craig Davis who has the distinction of being a participant in all the championships was slower and committed far too many errors. Michael York came off well on a couple of occasions in penalty corners but he was more a tackler than a striker. Keith Wark performed with credit in the all important game. Goal keeper Peter Noel too was nothing to take notice off in the initial stages but put in a tremendous performance in the match against the Netherlands when he brought off a series of saves from the thundering penalty corner shots executed by Bovelander,
Dearth with the Dutch
Finding substitutes has not been such a simple task for the Dutch as it was for the Australians. The recall of veteran Van’s Hek to bolster the frontline is as much a desperate measure as the one of retaining the aging Cess Van Dipeveen in the midfield. But all the weak spots in the team were covered by the singular efficiency at penalty corner conversion by Bovelander who seems to be carrying on the tradition in this area set by the illustrations. Paul Ltjens and Thies Kruize, With the goalkeepers confused cover the interpretation of new rule prohibiting them from falling flat on the ground before the first shot the job of Bovelander looked easier than ever before.
But that should not take away the ability of the 23 year old student, The Dutch realized their limitations and played a tactical game throughout. At no point in the tournament did they stretch themselves beyond their competence, This resulted in their attack working only spasmodically but effectively. The quick moving wringer Eric Parlevelit was always marked and this helped Van’t Hek to cut through more easily.
At the left flank, the young Van Honert displayed some sense of opportunism. The half line was manned well by the skipper the stocky Mare Delisson. Though he lacked the flair of his Australian counterpart, Marc labored with zeal as much as the wing halves, Koojiman and Dipeyeen. The Dutch had close encounters till India gave in easily in a 10 minute spell for the fourth successive victory. Even in this contest, India had the benefit of a lead in the first half before succumbing to the defeat. Surely, the silver for the Netherlands was a bonus for the individual display of Bovelander.
Loss in form
West Germany started with a tag of a three time in a rowcham. pion but managed to remain within the medal bracket after what looked to be a wash out. The defeat against India in the opening game shocked the Germans a: much as it did by the second re verse against the Netherlands But Germany came back in the closing stages holding Australia t< a draw and thrashing Pakistan by a41 verdict.
The nose injury to Stever Blocher easily the outstanding player in the pack added to it: problems till Carsten Fishe) brought it into the medal reckoning. Germany has not made many changes and there is no need t unlike the rest. But the team suffered on account of the poor form by its wingers Michael Hilgers and Michael Metz.
Only Thomas Reck showed the verve he is known for, but a bad, muscle pull in the final game against Pakistan has put him in the injured list. Schmidt contributed some solidity to the midfield by a string of consistently good performances though one cannot say the same of Andreas Keller and Andreas Mollandin. Sweeper Fisher and goalkeeper Schelimann gave the defense machinery the needed power and strength, at least in the last two matches.
Passing through the pangs of administrative convulsions after the resignation of its long time Secretary, Brig. M.H. Atif and with many loopholes to be plugged, Pakistan oscillated from good to bad to take the fourth place eventually after entertaining hopes of finishing in the medal bracket. After a remarkable fight back against Australia in the opening match, which was marred in the finals seconds by poor supervision of the British umpire Roger Webb, Pakistan suffered the second successive defeat against the Netherlands. A protest over the failure of umpire Webb to accede to the request of the players to stop the clock for a penalty corner where only two seconds rewnatnon wan yaiacted by the: Chief of inside right Shabaz who twisted his ankle at practice on the eve of the tournament. So serious was the injury that the team management thought it fit not to field him for the competition.
Tahir Zaman filled the breach but not with much success. Centre forward Arif Bhopali should count himself lucky to be assigned that role once held by that incomparable Hassan Sardar. Not infrequently, Mossadiq was substituted. Though Centre half Junaid played well in patches, the wing halves Arshad Quereshi and Naeem Amjad were slow as was Khalid Basheer at leftback. Qasi Mohib was prominent as usual while goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed was striking in some of his saves.
Weakening Champ
Great Britain landed in Berlin without any pretensions of proving its credentials as the Olympic champion. Its officials including the coach Norman Hughes the former skipper were realistic to the point of reconciling to taking the last spot. With only six of the 16 remaining in the squad after the ‘Olympics the Britons cannot hope anything better. But the team managed to pick up fifth spot after a 10 win, the first in five against India in its last match on better goal difference.
Britain’s main source of strength, Sean Kerly was destined to be a failure in the absence of the move makers, Bachelor on the right and Imran Sherwani on the left. It was the good work in the midfield by Jon Potter that kept some flow from the wings through Chris Mayor and Robert Thompson. Leman found the role as a Centre half totally alien to his temperament and soon moved up to his usual inside right berth. But two yellow cards did no credit to his showing.
And finally there was India ‘which offered so much at the start only to slip into square one, The only consolation was that India did not suffer a defeat by wide margin, except the 104 against the Netherlands. It is difficult to answer in the affirmative whether India would have acquired a higher rating had goal keeper Ashish Ballai not been injured on the eve of departure, The team no doubt had to go in for a stop gap arrangement urgently. Subbiah without any competitive experience at this grade, played well within himself though an error or two proved costly. The goal by Mark Hager against Australia was a case in point.
Inexperienced lot
It is pertinent to ask why India which started the competition in such rousing fashion faded so badly in the end. Partly the answer is inexperience. Experts like Horst We in feel that the team lacks hockey knowledge despite ‘possessing skill in abundant measure, Horst We in is pained that a set of players as proficient as the Indians should go through this phase of a defeat syndrome merely because of the failure to adopt the right strategy. He was pleased that the Indians today are fitter and show more fortitude than before but the players reflect very little personality.” In a match there can be as many as 250 different situations and the players must be taught to come out of them successfully. This can be done only by tactical planning with skill, Unfortunately, your coaches are only trainers; they Jack hockey knowledge,” he remarked.
‘Admittedly India played skillful hockey in the real sense of the word but what it lacked was the pace, The same amount of craft should be displayed at a different velocity if the team is to take on successfully any European combination. Another inhibiting factor is the absence of good substitutes. The team is forced to play the same set whatever be the form. The Chief coach Ganesh was at a loss when Thoiba Singh showed poor form. Vinod Chinappa is the substitute but many are wondering how this player is a national material. So is that Sanjeev Kumar who replaces Atif Idris usually. The main concern should be to look for good substitutes so that a player on his off day can be replaced without upsetting the balance in the team.
Jagbir dazzles
For sheer consistency of effort inside right Jude Felix was prominent though he was usually well marked by the defense. Centre forward Jagbir Singh was probably the most popular player with the Technical Delegate Mr. Asselmann who however, permitted the team management to appeal to the Jury. But the team did not want to keep the element of controversy beyond a point though it was true the officials were terribly disappointed by the turn of events.
Skilled
A victory over India by the narrowest of margins, however came as a balm and in this match the Pakistani team really put in its best effort. Though the goal by Qamar Ebrahim surfaced somewhat by accident than by design the players showed a high degree of skill in forking moves. The left flank consisting of Zahid Sharif and Wasim Feroze always stood out, probably owing to the absence media which was all praise over the goal he scored against the Australians, Generally the feeling is that Jagbir is the best that has happened to Indian hockey. His approach has come in praise from every section.
In the midfield left half Sujit Kumar showed the toughness to take the challenge but Vivek Singh as the pivot continues to take a soft line. Subramani worked hard involving himself in some dangerous and daring tackles but is prone to commit mistakes inside the circle. Two of his mistakes proved costly against the Netherlands. A happy fact, however, is the unison with which the deep defense is now working. Both Pargat Singh and Mohinderpal Singh lent sum and substance to this line whose effectiveness must be studied with the margin of the results. Pargat in particular was positively brilliant in interceptions.
The outcome of the Champions ‘Trophy should not breed any trace of pessimism among the Indian players or in the administration. There has been a marked improvement in basic skills. The present combination is bound to come off good sooner.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 21, 1989
