KARACHI, 18 May 2007 — Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) conceded their team’s disappointing sixth place finish in the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia last week was a discouraging sign and made it clear hockey will not be able to revive its glory days in the country unless it solves its monetary and infrastructure-related handicaps.
“Our performance in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was not at all encouraging, I would confess that,” PHF secretary Khalid Mehmood told Arab News in an interview. “But let me tell you, results won’t come unless we start investing in hockey,” added the former Olympian who blamed “lack of funds and an inadequate infrastructure” as the major reasons behind Pakistan’s non-stop slump in international hockey.
He also blasted the tournament’s Malaysian organizers for allowing a demanding schedule that forced Pakistan to play on four consecutive days in energy-sapping conditions.
Three-time champions Pakistan lost 2-4 to Argentina in a playoff for the fifth position in the eight-nation Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in the Malaysian city of Ipoh. Olympic champions Australia were the only higher-ranked team than Pakistan in the tournament that did not feature three of the world’s top teams – Germany, Holland and Spain.
It was easily one of the worst performances from Pakistan who have started a rebuilding process in a bid to prepare a strong team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing next summer.
“Our team played like a disjointed lot in Ipoh,” said Khalid Mehmood. “It was evident that our boys lacked fitness. In fact some of them seemed to me to be on the heavier side and that played a role in our poor showing,” he added. Khalid said that the PHF has decided to hire a full-time physical trainer for the national team after the flop in Malaysia. “It is clear that these boys need a physical trainer and should be put on a proper, nutritional diet because without physical strength, speed and stamina, there is no way that we can do well.” The PHF secretary was furious at the fact that Pakistan had to play four matches in a row after a power breakdown forced their group game against South Korea to be resumed a day later.
“No rules and regulations were followed and our team was forced to play four days in a row in physically demanding conditions,” he said. “I am not making any excuses but such a treatment had its toll on our players.” Khalid hoped that the national team would bounce back from the Ipoh disaster but was quick to add that Pakistan hockey needs concrete measures to regain its lost glory.
“People are always ready to criticize us whenever the team fails in an international event but they never bother about the problems we face,” he lamented. “Hockey has become an expensive game over the years and without spending money you cannot produce results.” Currently, the PHF is close to bankruptcy and its officials believe that existing sponsorship and government grants were not enough to run the game in a professional manner. Khalid made it clear that Pakistan will have to invest in hockey if they are to start winning medals again. “We have to take long term measures no matter what the cost to catch up with top teams like Australia and Germany.”
