Shattered hopes

Pakistan’s 4-2 loss against Spain brings curtains to its Champions Trophy hopes.

KARACHI:

With so much preparation and promise, it seemed Pakistan hockey seemed destined to cap off a remarkable last 12 months with a good show in the Champions Trophy.

The nation remained hopeful, the team officials even more so.

The nation’s hopes, however, were shattered in 60 minutes as Spain outclassed, out-paced and outwitted Pakistan 4-2, sending them crashing to their second defeat in as many matches and rule out any chances Pakistan had of a top-four finish.

The Asian Games winners, following a 2-1 loss at the hands of Great Britain in their opening match, showed no signs of improvement, with Spain dominating proceedings after taking a second-minute lead through a penalty-corner. Pakistan did bounce back through a field goal by Shakeel Abbasi but were left chasing again as Spain restored their lead through Gabriel Dabanch.

World record-holder and drag-flick specialist Sohail Abbas brought the team back on level terms but missed opportunities, a sad tale of Pakistan hockey of late, meant no more goals for the Greenshirts.

Spain, however, scored another brace to send Pakistan thinking what could have been.

Pakistan now sit bottom of the group with Great Britain, Spain and Australia all having registered at least a win apiece. Despite a poor show with the results and scoring, Pakistan team manager Khwaja Junaid remained satisfied.

“Our overall performance has been satisfactory,” Junaid told The Express Tribune from Auckland.

“Playing against top teams will help Pakistan bring improvement to their game in time for the Olympics. We will try and get some good results in the tournament to lift our confidence. We beat Australia last time we met them.”

‘Psychological pressure behind losses’

Meanwhile, Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh felt that psychological pressure when facing top teams was the main reason behind Pakistan’s back-to-back defeats.

“I believe that the team is underestimating itself,” he said. “It has admitted that European teams can’t be defeated. I watched both matches and the players showed lack of self-belief. Apart from mental strength, the team showed lack of stamina as well as tactical and technical flaws. There was no planning either from the team management.”

Team spirit not there:  Qamar Zia

Former captain Qamar Zia said the players have not shown team spirit in both the matches.

“The teamwork just isn’t there,” said Zia. “The players are focusing on their individual performances and the team-spirit spark isn’t there. That is alarming.”

Zia also asked the hockey officials to rectify their policies rather than claiming everything was under control.

Meanwhile, in other matches, Australia thrashed Greant Britain 4-1, New Zealand trounced Korea 6-1 and the Netherlands beat Germany 3-2.

Khwaja Junaid

“Our overall performance is satisfactory.  Playing against top teams will help Pakistan bring improvement to their game in time for the Olympics.  We will try and get some good results in the tournament to lift our confidence.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.