The writer is a Chemical Engineer from NUST
To say that August 30, 2013, was the darkest day in Pakistan’s hockey history would not be an exaggeration. As the founders of the hockey World Cup and four time world champions (in 1971, 1978, 1982 and 1994), it’s a shame that Pakistan could not even qualify to play in the thirteenth edition of the World Cup.
This is a terribly painful situation for a team which had once been a master of this game. Pakistan had a smooth passage into the semifinals of the Asia Cup, which was refreshing for the nation but then, as has been the case over the past few years, the team became infected with its ‘Korea-phobia’.
It is the third time this year — following the Azlan Shah Cup, World Hockey League, and now the Asia Cup — that the South Koreans kept Pakistan from achieving these three titles. South Korea remains our strongest and fiercest competitor.
There is a long list of factors which might have resulted in this tragedy. These include a blatant exhibition of non-serious behaviour from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), lack of long-term planning, a fundamental lack of procedures or opportunities for new and younger talent to become part of the team, no effort to have international matches on home ground and frequent changes of coaching staff.
The PHF should be held responsible for the above reasons. The organisation is not playing an instrumental role to introduce or search for new youngsters. Hockey teams in schools and colleges are diminishing and the culture of playing hockey as a professional sport is also on the decline. No effective steps are being taken towards making hockey popular amongst youngsters.
After every tournament and defeat, the PHF announces changes in plans and future aims, which shows a lack of systematic deliberation and strategy. There is no concrete plan and the players’ performance is strongly reflective of this. The coaching staff is changed after every tournament and every new coach has his own technique for the game. It obviously takes time for the players to excel in the so-called strategy and just as the players begin to adjust to the new techniques, the coach and his staff members are replaced once again!
Hence, even the coaches cannot be blamed for such terrible performances as they have the genuine reason of not being given enough time to train.
When it comes to a good coach, the team is in dire need of a sincere professional, who not only has experience of playing hockey, but will also work for the uplift and betterment of this sport in Pakistan.
Sports psychologists can also be of help for our national team for mental and psychological rehabilitation and nurturing to help it cope with this defeat.
If we want to get out of this crisis, the government or the sports ministry needs to step in and administer the governing body as this sport is our national game and hence, a symbol of our pride.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2013.
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COMMENTS (13)
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A really good analysis. Frequently changing players and coaches is not the solution. It is about creating a grass roots structure starting from the school level and developing a professional league. Here is a piece that discusses this more: http://www.pakmonitor.com/the-hockey-debacle/
@Supporter through the highs and the lows: I agree. Everyone cries foul when something happens in hockey and then they go back to watching Cricket. Our fixation with Cricket is somewhat unhealthy. Why aren't we developing other sports like boxing, hockey, snooker or chess? Come on!
Hockey revivial in the subcontinent will depend on how much money can be put into the sport by private entrapreneurs. Something like IPL should be started at subcontinental level. I see one area where India and Pakistan can co-operate since both face similar problems.
yes it is very unfortunate that with each series ,the management is changed especially after loss. the old stalwart are against foreign coaches,the reason best known to them.if i am not wrong India's new coach is one whom we rejected and thrown out with out any good reason.it is time that those experts who comes on tv now and then let the management do its work.if yu are so sincere and pro country men then come forward do your duty help PHF in organising and promoting hockey in positive way.plz dont wait to be caaled or given top post to stsfy your ego other wise plz refrain from critisizing .
It makes me so mad that our population has suddenly decided to come out and protest against the unfortunate outcome of the Pakistani Hockey team. Don't justify protesting against the team at their losses when you couldn't care less about even watching any of the games. Hardly anyone even paid attention because they were too busy praying for the cricket team playing at the same time.
Anyone out on the streets of any Pakistani street, couldnt even name half the players of our national squad or even the captain. Yet when the boys lose one game out of four and sudddenly people think they have the right to demand success from the team only because they're representing our national sport.
Treat it like a national sport and then expect results. If you haven't been bothered to watch Hockey in the past four five years anyway then don't pretend like you're devastated by the result.
Also a small reminder that in the past 6 tournaments pakistan has finished on the podium four times. In the world Hockey league they lost only 2 out of 6 games, and currently in the Asia cup have lost 1 out of 4. These boys are more then competent enough.
Our team and our boys aren't the reason for Hockeys downfall in Pakistan. Its the cricket-obsessed population.
Very few countries used to play hockey and it was slow game. After more countries started playing and with the introduction of astroturf the weak south Asians started slipping down in the rankings. Without scientific education and training, extreme fitness, agility both mentally and physically and a killer instinct we cannot compete with more fit and powerful teams. Even in much talked about cricket our weakest point is fielding and wicket keeping which is also fielding. The same goes about goalkeeping. These require mental and physical agility and that is what we have been lacking in all games. We have more guns than most countries but when it comes to Olympics we fail even in those events.
One thing is sure that our hockey structure needs to be changed completely from coaches to players and management.
I think the national side played well within their means in the Asia Cup. The loss to Malaysia was fighting. The downfall of the hockey is a long story.Our passion is cricket.Hockey has been wiped out of School specially in Punjab and Karachi which gave most of the young blood.Hockey players earn 5% of the cricket.Movies are made’main houn shahid afridi’ and ‘not main houn shahnaz shaikh’.Do we expect that a young school boy will travel all the way to a practice on astro turf @ hcp stadium from landhi, korangi,orangi and new karachi daily? hockey died not at asia cup @ KL but 30 years ago when we ignored it in favour of cricket.we got neither of it.we have to start all over again and even then it will take 15 years to be at the top.choice is ours?
Excellent article. Lets hope the powers that be take notice and do something for a change. Pakistan hockey is not dead, it needs to be revived and can be restored to its former glory- which is not an impossible task.
There is tremendous talent in this country. All that needs to be done is to harness that talent.
Government should take strict actions against PHF officials who are responsible for such unforgettable defeat. We are going to devastate every single sport in our country one by one. In my view some of the measures which have to be immediately applied are 1. Govt should take all of the parties(Olympians, administration, media) on board. 2. Govt should take relevant measures to make hockey popular among youth. 3. Hockey leagues should be conducted in Pakistan. 4. Locate where is the problem because a disease known is half cured, then diagnose it on primary basis.
I am sure this article has touched all the internet visitors, its really really good paragraph on building hope and concern for our hockey team. really good work Bro!
Right Mr.Bhatti.pakistan lost last match because of psychological pressure and same strategies with different teams. good effort to analyze the good and bad policies of PHF.
So so disappointing loss. Its like funeral of national game