I HAPPENED to watch all the hockey matches of Pakistani team in this Olympics. Well, winning and losing are two sides of a coin. So, expecting perfect performance from any team is out of the question.

Keeping in view the scarce resources and scant training facilities available to the Pakistani players here in Pakistan, one cannot merely blame the team players for a dismal performance.

If you closely observe the players of other teams, it was very much evident that Pakistani players seemed physically more feeble and malnourished as if the team has not been fed with quality food for so long.

No one except the captain seemed physically fit for the match. The physical strength seemed to be lacking in the team. Players of other teams were concentrating on the game whereas our players were busy making sure that each time they run with the ball they can at least reach the circle of the goalpost because of their shortness in breathing due to inadequate physical fitness.

Forget about scoring goals for the moment. Of course, the physical strength gives psychological strength in any game. The Pakistan Hockey Federation, as well as the government, ha to make sure that our players are physically fit and are at least of equal strength to players of other teams.

Or the PHF can hire a good body-building coach and a nutritionist for our team so that at least our team can perform better in the upcoming championships.

FARAZ MAHMOOD Karachi