KARACHI Pakistan hockey legends hailed Pakistan for reaching the Asia Cup final and putting up a brilliant show in the final against the formidable South Koreans who clinched the title with a thrilling 1-0 win in Kuantan, Malaysia on Saturday.
'Pakistan would have won the match if they had availed the chances they tailored. Korea has always played defensive and give very little chances but Pakistan in the final broke into the defensive Koreans and created many chances,' former hockey Olympian and present PHF Chief Selector Hasan Sardar said.
He said the way the Pakistani team performed in the Asia Cup showed that the coach and the manager prepared the team well for the event.
'Asif Bajwa (manager) and Shahid Ali Khan (coach) did the home-work and prepared the team well for the Asia Cup. We defeated formidable teams like India and Malaysia in the tournament so it shows that the team has worked through its weaknesses,' said Hasan, who is considered as the best centre forward Pakistan ever produced.
'The team and combinations with in it take time to form and I expect we will be a formidable team in the world circuit soon.
'The credit goes to the senior players who played with their experience and the young players who displayed spirited show,' he added.
He further said that Pakistan who failed to perform in big events like Olympics used to give gaps with in its defense, which teams like Malaysia and Korea exploited but now have overcome this weakness.
'Now the Pakistan didnt have any gaps and Korea was unable to attack much. They (Pakistan) defended well throughout the tournament,' Hasan said.
'I think that we can expect good from the team now. They played really well in the tournament and we hit the second spot in the Asia Cup rankings,' another legendary Pakistan hockey Olympian Samiullah said.
'Pakistan dominated the first half of the Asia Cup final and were quite organized. But in the second half some of the players displayed individual game which went against the team. Overall, they played well in the final and in the tournament and I hope the Pakistan Hockey graph will go in the right direction,' he said.
'The gamble that PHF took by including senior players in the team went in favour of the team. Goal keeper Salman Akbar has performed impressively in the tournament but he didnt give the same performance in the final. However, he played really well in the Asia Cup as a whole,' Samiullah said.
Samiullah said Pakistan would have won the final match if they had marked man-to-man and availed the chances they got.
He suggested that Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) should start its home-work for the Hockey World Cup in 2010 as soon as possible.
'They must start their preparation to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and give a good show in the prestigious event,' he said.
'We hope that the morale would be boosted with this events fine show and Pakistan Hockey could come on the right track again,' he concluded.
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