The legendary former Olympians of Pakistan hockey, who had severely criticised the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) prior to the 2010 Asian Games, stepped up and felicitated the winning squad, who won the gold medal after twenty
years in the Asian Games Men’s Hockey Final in Guangzhou, China.
The former Olympians having their smiles brought back congratulated the Pakistan Hockey Federation along with Dutch Coach Michel Van Den Heuvel, to whom they had particular reservations.
The Pakistan hockey team after finishing a humiliating 12th and 6th place in the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games respectively, at last broke the curse on the team and won the gold medal in the Asian Games after thrashing Malaysia.
The gold was previously won 20 years ago in the 1990 Asian Games that were held in Beijing.
The most successful Captain in Pakistan hockey, Islahuddin Siddiqui applauded the Greenshirts on their historic win. He said that the squad deserved all the praise after striking gold.
Islahuddin stated that victories always earn praise and love while defeats face criticism and are trounced, adding that he and his fellow veterans hadn’t articulated anything personal against the PHF Management rather they recommended
simple suggestions for the betterment of hockey in the country. He said that Pakistan, including this present win had acquired eight gold medals in total in Asia of which in four of those he represented the country either as player or coach.
Islahuddin maintained, “So when legends of our competence give suggestions, they should be heeded and not condemned. We have always served hockey and it was our criticism that put the current young administration of the Pakistan
Hockey Federation on the right path.” He hoped that the Pakistan hockey team would keep this winning spirit in future events and would do well in the 2012 London Olympics.
The former Olympian and legendary striker, Shahnaz Sheikh congratulated the team over the momentous triumph, saying that he was very joyful for the team and the PHF as well, as they helped make this victory possible.
In a classical analysis of the final game, Shahnaz stated that the final of the Asian Games was basically a battle between two lions of which Malaysia was the hungry lion, which hadn’t won a title ever. On the other hand Pakistan
was the injured lion, who had taken a battering and hadn’t won a title for the last two decades.
Another world hockey star, Shahbaz Ahmad Senior, who still has differences with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), also congratulated the team and declared the triumph a great achievement of the Greenshirts.
Shahbaz stated that he is entitled to his own viewpoint and he is still firm on his stance. He said, “I had expressed that the Dutch Coach, Michel Van Den Heuvel was leading a club before joining the Pakistan team and he hasn’t
international level potential to train the team. Look, we missed three penalty shoot-outs in the semi-final and even couldn’t get a single short corner against South Korea.”
Shahbaz was of the view that the team would have to work in these areas and he would also regularly guide the Federation in this regard.
Hasan Sardar, another well known player of Pakistan Hockey declared the Greenshirts superb, saying that the hockey squad should carry the same form into the upcoming London Olympics to revive their past pride.
Hasan Sardar further said that the team badly needed such a triumph to rejoice the masses, however he asked the team to work in their weak areas to produce better results. “There are numerous flaws to be improved particularly drag
flicking techniques as Sohail Abbas failed to convert short corners against South Korea and India” he added.
Hasan Sardar, who had earlier not approved of the Dutch coach Michel Van Den Heuvel, said that he too deserved credit along with the team. He hoped that the team would continue this spirit in the future tournaments.
The smiles on the faces of the former Olympians show that hockey is on the upswing in the country. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) should take the former Olympians on-board to help further polish the team to prepare it for
the London Olympics.
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