Do not expect miracles at Commonwealth Games: Heuvel

Pakistan is placed in a tough Pool A that also features World Champions Australia, Malaysia, Scotland and India.


Express September 29, 2010

LAHORE: Pakistan hockey coach Michel van Den Heuvel has said that miracles cannot be expected from his team at the Commonwealth Games. Pakistan is placed in a tough Pool A that also features World Champions Australia, Malaysia, Scotland and India.

Heuvel said that a gold medal cannot be expected although Pakistan had prepared well for the event.

“I’m responsible for the team but we are clearly not the number one,” said Heuvel. “Australia [the current number one] is also competing there so I don’t think our aim should be a gold medal. I don’t think it’s possible but we will play our best  so that we prepare for the Asian Games.”

Apart from these five teams, England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago will also participate in the hockey event and are placed in Pool B.

“We are looking at it match by match. We will start our campaingn against Scotland and then Malaysia. The biggest worry is Australia and not to mention India. These two teams are tough to play,” said Heuvel.

However, Pakistan captain Zeeshan Ashraf, who was cleared to play after passing a fitness test, seemed confident. “The nightmare of Delhi will not haunt Pakistan and I am confident that this team will reach the victory stands in the Commonwealth Games,” said Khan.

Pakistan, currently placed eighth in the world rankings, have not done better than a fifth place at the Commonwealth Games in three attempts - in 1998, 2002, 2006 - and hit rock bottom at this year’s World Cup in New Delhi, finishing last.

“Right now, we are not in a position to win a gold medal and I’m a bit sad that nothing has been done. World hockey is growing at the moment and teams are getting more and more competitive. But we are trying to get back on track and aim for a much better performance at the Games.”

Heuvel said that Pakistan, once the team to beat, has witnessed a decline since winning the World Cup in 1994 but hoped that things would be better soon.

“Pakistan was 12th in the World Cup in India. This is not the position of Pakistan in world hockey. We are growing though and positive results will follow soon.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2010.

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