LAHORE, 10 December 2004 — Pakistan hockey star Sohail Abbas was fifth time unlucky as the World Player of the Year award went to Australia’s star striker Jamie Dwyer here yesterday.
Sohail, broke two world records and was highest scorer in the Olympic qualifiers in Madrid and Olympic Games in Athens, but was overlooked by his peers for the prestigious International Hockey Federation (FIH) award.
Sohail, the most feared short corner striker in the world, was favorite for the title after having missed out on four occasions since 1999.
Perhaps, Dwyer’s golden goal in the final of Athens Games against Holland that gave Australia their first ever Olympic gold, swung the votes in his favor.
Dwyer, 25, won almost 50 percent of the total votes, beating leading rivals like Sohail Abbas and Jeoren Delmee of Holland by a comfortable margin.
For the first time, the award was decided on the basis of votes cast by members of the team featuring in the Champions Trophy.
Australia are not competing in the elite six-nation tournament because of security concerns.
Dwyer has played 90 internationals for Australia and has scored 60 goals. He was FIH’s young player of the year in 2002 and made a spectacular comeback after suffering from a serious knee injury at the 2003 Champions Trophy in Amstelveen.
Australian legend Richard Charlesworth received the award on Dwyer’s behalf from FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman at a local hotel.
“I thank you all for selecting me for the award,” said Dywer in a brief telephonic speech.
Spain’s Santiago Freixa won the Young Player of the Year award.
Freixa, 21 is making his bones as an effective striker and also a prolific short corner specialist.
Pakistani goalkeeper Salman Akber was included among the ten nominees for the award.
The FIH president said both the winners were worthy of the awards. “From the list of nominations it is obvious that our winners are wonderful ambassadors for their respective nations and also four our sport,” she said.
Pakistan Take On Spain
in Crunch Tie
More than three months after their Olympic nightmare, Pakistan would take on mighty Spain today in a crucial match of the 26th Champions Trophy with plenty at stake.
In Athens this summer, Spain hammered Pakistan 4-0 to kick them out of the medals’ race. The Pakistanis had to settle with a disappointing fifth place finish in the Olympics. And in March this year, the Spaniards toyed with Pakistan in the semifinals of the Olympic Qualifiers in Madrid in a 4-2 triumph.
But avenging those embarrassing defeats is not the only thing on the minds of the hosts who are aiming for a place in the Champions Trophy final for the first time in six years.
Several of the Pakistani players are in the twilight of their international careers, knowing fully well this might be their final chance of winning a major title.
And the greenshirts are fully aware that to be able to take a shot at the coveted crown, they will have to somehow end their Spanish nightmare, a seemingly difficult task keeping in view the tournament’s form book.
While Spain have been impressive throughout the competition. They were in full flow even in an unlucky 2-4 defeat against defending champions Holland that followed three consecutive wins earlier in the competition.
Pakistan on the other hand have been far from convincing. They struggled in two back-to-back 3-1 wins over Germany and New Zealand and barely managed to beat India 2-1.
“We are slowly raising our game and hope to give an improved performance against Spain tomorrow,” Pakistani skipper Waseem Ahmed said yesterday. “They (Spain) have beaten us in important matches this year but that will all be behind us when we meet them on home soil for what is a very important game,” added the midfielder hoping to become the first Pakistani captain after the legendary Shahbaz Ahmed to win a major title. Shahbaz guided Pakistan to twin success in the 1994 World Cup in Sydney and Champions Trophy in Lahore.
Pakistani coach Roelant Oltmans said his boys have the potential to beat Spain and qualify for the final.
“They only need to give their best against Spain,” said the Dutchman who is to quit as Pakistani coach after the Champions Trophy.
As Pakistan and Spain set their sights on their potentially-explosive clash, defending champions Holland have two days to relax before Sunday’s final.
Holland are already in the final and have an easy outing against the second string team of Germany. The Dutch management intends to use the match as a practice session ahead of the gold medal game.
India would be looking to beat New Zealand and win a place in the playoff for the bronze medal. The Indians have lost out the bronze to Pakistan in 2002 and 2003 but are hoping to end their barren run in the Champions Trophy. India have not won a single Champions Trophy medal since a bronze in the 1982 edition.
