Senior players support restricted role of selectors

Akbar claims move will aid Olympic preparations.

KARACHI:
Senior hockey players view the national selection committee’s limited role as a positive step as Pakistan gear up for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced in January that the committee’s role will now be restricted to scout talent from across the country, instead of choosing the team for any international tournaments. Instead the team management – coach Michel van den Heuvel, captain and the manager  – will be responsible for selecting players for the international assignments.

Following the decision, the national championship started on January 28 in Faisalabad without the selectors for the first time. “I think it’s a positive change,” goal-keeper Salman Akbar told The Express Tribune. “The selection committee has only been a part of the sports culture in Pakistan – it never really had a real role.”

Akbar also said that the event does not need the committee anymore. “It’s a good experiment and will help the team in preparing for the Olympics. And as far as the selection committee’s role in the National Hockey Championship is concerned, I don’t think their exclusion makes any difference.”

“Previously, the selectors would never watch the trials completely and only show up on alternative days so they never really had any idea about any player’s performance.”


Similarly, Shakeel Abbasi, who is representing Sui Southern Gas Corporation in the National Hockey Championship, trusts Heuvel’s skills completely when it comes to selecting the team for the national squad. According to Abbasi, Heuvel would spend the whole day on the ground which would make chances of getting the best players out the national championships higher.

“The national championship is the most important domestic event and the only chance to get into the squad,” said Abbasi. “But in the presence of the selection team it was more or less about favouritism while Heuvel is dedicated to finding the best combination and making a better team. So there is big difference in the way selectors and Heuvel are motivated.”

Hanif defends selectors

Meanwhile, former chief selector Hanif Khan feels that committee has always taken the coach’s suggestions on board and therefore, the selectors cannot be replaced. Khan also said that the selection committee minimises favouritism since it has at least more than five members.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2011.
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