KARACHI, Feb 17 The newly-appointed national hockey team coach, Olympian Shahid Ali Khan has said that bringing the team back to its best may be tough but he is up for the challenge.

Speaking to the media at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) on Tuesday, the former star goalkeeper said that he has already received plenty of support as well as criticism from many former Olympians as he prepares to take over the reins of the national squad.

“I am grateful to those who have shown faith in me. And to those who have their doubts I want to say that kindly criticise me if I commit a mistake or do something wrong. But let me concentrate on my work for now. I too need your good wishes just as the team which is at a stage where it is looking for support and encouragement.”

Shahid was obviously referring to a recent television interview given by former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh where the senior player was very vocal about his assessment of the former goalkeeper`s coaching abilities.

About the post given to him by the PHF, Shahid said “Well, it was decided by the PHF Executive Board. I know that they were considering eight to 10 people for the coach`s job. Many Olympians even turned down the offer as Pakistan has lost to just about every team in the world. In Asia alone, after having lost to countries such as Malaysia, Japan and China, we are just above Bangladesh and Hong Kong.”

Shahid, who has worked under German coach Paul Lissek as goalkeeping development consultant for the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) for the past three years and seen that team come up to number three in Asia, said that he wanted Pakistan to win the forthcoming Asia Cup (May 8-15).

“Winning the tournament, and not just reaching the podium, is our only option in order to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. I don`t want to worry about the other qualifying tournaments before the big event.”

About his plans to build a winning side, he said “There is no dearth of talent here but there will be no compromise on discipline and fitness. Concentrating too much on short corners, fumbling during stoppage, midfield defense, rolling substitution, etc., are some of the areas which need working on and I will be concentrating on those.”

He also added “All opposing teams have to be handled differently. The weaker ones can be played with a stronger attack with four or five forwards and the ones with a stronger attack can be played with one forward less, who can cover a position in the midfield.”

About putting to use his own goal-keeping experience, the player who has been associated with the sport for some 28 years and has played for Pakistan between 1980 and 1994 said “Yes of course. Nasir Ahmad is a good goalkeeper but Salman Akbar too should be brought back to the side. We are looking for other good goalkeepers as well.”

Shahid will be visiting the junior camp in Islamabad on Wednesday before the national camp being held in preparation for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia (April 5-12) that commences from Feb 20 in Lahore. “There are six to seven boys in the junior camp too such as Shafqat Rasool, M. Irfan, Inayatullah and Kashif who I want to see in action as they too will be joining the senior team.”

As for the other boys, he said “I am hoping that Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Salman Akbar, who all have foreign league obligations, can join us as there is no substitute for experience. Other than that we have 40 probables to choose from now after we named another six who for some reason or the other had been missed from the 36 named earlier.”

Asked whether his department will be releasing him for coaching of the national team after what happened to Ayaz Mahmood, Shahid said “Well, yes, because I am already working in the sports department at PIA whereas Ayaz isn`t.”