BEIJING: Pakistan’s hockey team manager, Zakauddin, who came here with high hopes and is returning home not only empty-handed but humiliated, says he is taking full responsibility for the Beijing Olympics debacle.
“ I keep telling the boys to forget about the bouquets we were expecting and get ready to face the music,” said the plucky man from Lahore(originally from Jullunder).
Talking to Arab News before Pakistan’s last match against New Zealand for seventh and eighth position (which the Kiwis went on to win to rub salt into the wounds), Zakauddin said he has known ups and downs in his 50-year career as a player and a coach.
“ I am disappointed but not deterred.We have the ability to rebound from adversity, as we have done in the past,’ said the former celebrated right-winger of the national team.
“ Let us not spread gloom and despondency.”
Asked if he felt crestfallen, he raised the pitch of his voice a bit as if to assert himself as a pragmatist loud and clear. “I have lived long enough to know how to take victories and defeats into my strides. Life won’t be life if there are no ups and downs. Kings and presidents would say the same,” said the 72-year-old grandfather.
Zakauddin said he would face the press or any probe committee back home bravely and squarely and explain what went wrong, where and why.
“I don’t mince words. I call spade a spade.”
He said he hated simplifications but would dare say that Pakistan’s dismal loss to Britain in the opening match made the difference. Pakistan did pretty well in the next three matches and was unlucky to lose. “We could not recover from the rude shock at the very outset of the tournament.” Also, he pointed out that judging by the Europeans’ performance here he could say that Pakistan’s homework was not indequate. There should be more and more matches against Europeans to whom sturdiness and physical fitness come naturally.
Told that this was the worst ever performance of Pakistan, known the world over for hockey supremacy, Zakauddin said indeed it hurts him to know this and be part of the debacle.
“But I have full faith in Pakistan’s instinctive and intrinsic resilence as a nation good enough to reverse the setbacks. Individuals don’t matter. Our history is replete with this.”
Further told that Qasim Zia, former Pakistan captain-fullback, was being tipped to replace Mir Zafarullah Jamali as president of Pakistan Hockey Federation, he said he would prefer not to say things prematurely.
“Let experts dissect our performance honestly and diligently to chalk out a remedial course as a result in the larger interest of Pakistan’s sports, hockey in particular,” Zakauddin said.
In the words of a senior Indian journalist, the Beijing Olympics would be remembered for dubious distinction for both India, once invincible, and Pakistan. “India was conspicuous by its untold absence.
Pakistan went on to receive the worst ever drubbing to return home with a spoon rather than gold, silver or bronze. Here is food for thought for the declining stickwork maestros.”
