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Guangzhou: Pakistan faces a ‘must win’ hockey clash in the semi-final against South Korea here on Tuesday where a victory will ensure them a berth in the final of the mega event while a loss will end their campaign and with it the careers of possibly all the senior pros in the squad. Pakistan last won a hockey gold in the 1990 Asian Games held in Beijing, China, and a gold here will ensure a direct berth for them in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The team put up a lacklustre show against low-ranking Bangladesh on Sunday where after leading four-nil in the first half, they managed two goals in the second to finish 6-1.
According to the experts, Pakistan’s penalty-corner expert Sohail Abbas and the team’s forward line must fire against the aggressive South Koreans otherwise making a comeback in the match will be extremely difficult for them. Pakistan plays the semi-final at 3.00pm China time [12.00pm PST] at the Aoti Hockey Stadium.
“We are confident of victory against the Koreans,” said Pakistan Hockey Federation’s secretary Asif Bajwa while talking to Dawn. “The team is fit and boys are in form and one can expect a far better show against South Korea.”
Assistant coach Khawja Junaid also tried to justify Pakistan’s sloppy game during the league fixture against Bangladesh.
“The match against minnows Bangladesh was not a tough clash but we will Inshallah raise our game for the semi-final. All our players are fit and raring to go at the South Koreans,” he said.
South Koreans, who were surprisingly held 2-2 by Malaysia during a league match last week, bounced back to crush Singapore 12-1 in their last league match on Sunday.
Meanwhile, expert opinions given by ex-Olympians back home indicated that it will be curtains for senior players Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shakeel Abbasi if Pakistan fails against South Korea.
“These players are in the team mainly on request of the Dutch coach and he [coach] is of the view that he is making full use of their experience,” said a former Olympian requesting anonymity.
The arrogant Dutch coach, Michel van den Heuvel, stationed himself among the spectators during all the league matches, shouting at the players all the time and hardly visiting the benches during any of the fixtures.
According to the observers, many of the team’s senior players were seen limping during the last 25 minutes of the Bangladesh game as the Dutch coach rotated them regularly.
“He [Michel van den Heuvel] has no other option accept to rotate the players during the matches and he followed the same strategy during the league matches,” said a local hockey expert.
Hockey legend Akhtar Rasool added: “You don’t have legends anymore who used to be there with the team. Hockey has become a science of sorts and is a game of fitness and stamina rather than dribbling and dodging.”
