Seniors lash out at critics after gold
Asian Games winning hockey players in no mood to retire before the Olympics.
KARACHI:
Seniors in the Pakistan hockey team have lashed out at critics who suggested retirement to these players after the team clinched a historic gold medal in the Asian Games that took them through to the 2012 London Olympics. Former players remarked that seniors including captain Zeeshan Ashraf, 36, will not be able make it to the event in 2012 and hinted retirement.
However, goal-keeper Salman Akbar, who played a huge role in Pakistan’s victory in Guangzhou, said that the gold medal has motivated the players for the 2012 London Olympics.
“I think it’s extremely sad that people think we are going to retire after that,” Akbar told The Express Tribune. “We won the gold medal just for people to say that we aren’t needed anymore?”
Wrong perception about seniors
Akbar said that the perception that senior players cannot sustain their performance for another two years was wrong and cited the example of Sohail Abbas who made a comeback to the team for the event in China. Abbas, who was dropped after Pakistan finished last in the World Cup held in India earlier this year, is the world’s leading goal-scorer and performed ably in the Asian Games.
“Look at Abbas, it was the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) that approached him because they needed him. The seniors are not a liability. We are a necessity for them.”
Young talent needs to be groomed
However, the goal-keeper maintained that younger players should be groomed for the future so that the best team can be prepared for the London Olympics.
“This doesn’t mean that we don’t want the new players. The federation would have enough time to find new talent and groom it. They can prepare the best team for the 2012 Olympics with the mixture of both seniors and newcomers,” said Akbar.
Reiterating Akbar’s views, Rehan Butt also said that all senior players are physically fit who have no intention to retire.
“All the seniors are physically fit and working hard for the London Olympics,” said Butt. “I’m practising regularly so that I’m sure of a spot in the team for the event in 2012.”
Meanwhile, the PHF President Qasim Zia said that he has not heard of any retirement plans.
Earlier Pakistan chief selector Hanif Khan said that the players should judge their own fitness.
“I think it’s impossible for the seniors to last another two years. Most of them are over 31, and we have to see whether they can repeat the Asian Games performance,” said Khan.
“It’s not about participating in the Olympics. It’s about getting that gold medal. If they prove their fitness they will be in the team. Otherwise it’s high time for them to hang up their boots.”
Goal-keeper Salman Akbar
“We won the Asian Games gold medal just for people to say that we aren’t needed anymore. The seniors are not a liability for Pakistan. We are a necessity for them.”
Chief Selector Hanif Khan
“It’s about getting that gold medal. If they prove their physical fitness they will be in the team, otherwise it’s high time for them to hang their boots.”
Centre-forward Rehan Butt
“All the senior players are physically fit and working hard for the London Olympics. I’m practising hard to maintain my fitness to ensure my spot in the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2010
Seniors in the Pakistan hockey team have lashed out at critics who suggested retirement to these players after the team clinched a historic gold medal in the Asian Games that took them through to the 2012 London Olympics. Former players remarked that seniors including captain Zeeshan Ashraf, 36, will not be able make it to the event in 2012 and hinted retirement.
However, goal-keeper Salman Akbar, who played a huge role in Pakistan’s victory in Guangzhou, said that the gold medal has motivated the players for the 2012 London Olympics.
“I think it’s extremely sad that people think we are going to retire after that,” Akbar told The Express Tribune. “We won the gold medal just for people to say that we aren’t needed anymore?”
Wrong perception about seniors
Akbar said that the perception that senior players cannot sustain their performance for another two years was wrong and cited the example of Sohail Abbas who made a comeback to the team for the event in China. Abbas, who was dropped after Pakistan finished last in the World Cup held in India earlier this year, is the world’s leading goal-scorer and performed ably in the Asian Games.
“Look at Abbas, it was the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) that approached him because they needed him. The seniors are not a liability. We are a necessity for them.”
Young talent needs to be groomed
However, the goal-keeper maintained that younger players should be groomed for the future so that the best team can be prepared for the London Olympics.
“This doesn’t mean that we don’t want the new players. The federation would have enough time to find new talent and groom it. They can prepare the best team for the 2012 Olympics with the mixture of both seniors and newcomers,” said Akbar.
Reiterating Akbar’s views, Rehan Butt also said that all senior players are physically fit who have no intention to retire.
“All the seniors are physically fit and working hard for the London Olympics,” said Butt. “I’m practising regularly so that I’m sure of a spot in the team for the event in 2012.”
Meanwhile, the PHF President Qasim Zia said that he has not heard of any retirement plans.
Earlier Pakistan chief selector Hanif Khan said that the players should judge their own fitness.
“I think it’s impossible for the seniors to last another two years. Most of them are over 31, and we have to see whether they can repeat the Asian Games performance,” said Khan.
“It’s not about participating in the Olympics. It’s about getting that gold medal. If they prove their fitness they will be in the team. Otherwise it’s high time for them to hang up their boots.”
Goal-keeper Salman Akbar
“We won the Asian Games gold medal just for people to say that we aren’t needed anymore. The seniors are not a liability for Pakistan. We are a necessity for them.”
Chief Selector Hanif Khan
“It’s about getting that gold medal. If they prove their physical fitness they will be in the team, otherwise it’s high time for them to hang their boots.”
Centre-forward Rehan Butt
“All the senior players are physically fit and working hard for the London Olympics. I’m practising hard to maintain my fitness to ensure my spot in the team.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2010