Hockey revival?

A medal at any global sporting event is a reflection of the talent that a team or an individual possesses. Though a tournament structure may be flawed — where progress is guaranteed even if you lose all your group matches — the knockouts often catch you off guard, sealing the team’s fate in a matter of a few minutes.

Pakistan managed to scrape through their group in the hockey Champions Trophy having beaten just Belgium. However, to be in contention for the medals, the green shirts still had to outwit, outsmart and outclass the world number one and Olympic champions, Germany. Perhaps saving their best for that crucial game, the resolute defence defied the far superior attacking ability of the Germans and despite various scuffed chances, Shakeel Abbasi’s brace took them to within touching distance of the final of a tournament they were playing, courtesy, a wild card.

Not to be, however, as mistakes were repeated against the Dutch and determination failed to plug holes left open by the lack of skills. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials had been willing participants on-air following the German upset but the semi-final loss shoved reality into their faces. Luckily, the tournament ended well for the green shirts, edging out arch-rivals India to take their first Champions Trophy medal since 2004. Since that tournament in Lahore, Pakistan had finished fifth (2005, 2006), seventh (2007, 2011) and failed to qualify for the Trophy from 2008 to 2010, an apt depiction of how low the sport has fallen in the country.

The PHF was quick to term the German upset the revival of Pakistan hockey but the lack of ideas and creativity, inability to convert penalty-corners, goalkeeping woes and lack of goals, as well as the perseverance with underperforming seniors are just a few factors that the officials need to counter quickly. Pakistan was once the world’s best. Now, they sit ninth. The rot must be tackled swiftly.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2012.