LAHORE, July 25: Pakistan’s senior team hockey coach Khawaja Zakauddin is confident about his team’s chances in the forthcoming Beijing Olympics and feels his players are well prepared to meet the challenge ahead.

“We have worked very hard in the last one year and I must say here the boys have responded positively,” says Zakauddin. “Our five-match series in China, the Azlan Shah Cup, the extensive European tour and finally the 4-nation tournament in Ireland have been beneficial in preparing the boys for the ultimate challenge in Beijing.

“Let me say that during these six months we tried many combinations, different variations in our tactical approach which of course included specialisation on penalty corner conversion.”

“Some people say that the European tour was too long, but from my point of view it was absolutely essential. Firstly, since most of the players were not having enough international exposure, therefore it was vital for them.

“Secondly, it provided the opportunity to the coaches to make an assessment about each and every player’s strong and weak points. Finally, this process did help us to rectify the flaws in our tactical strategy and individual player’s shortcomings. Here we succeeded to a larger extent,” explains the former Olympian.

“Olympic hockey is very special, it has the aura, it has the grandeur and it demands both physical and psychological perseverance. Our boys must retain these two factors during two weeks of grueling contest.”

The coach continues: “In fact no team should be taken for granted. For example, the lowly-rated New Zealand won the Olympic gold at Montreal in 1976 while big guns failed to excel. So, this thought should never occupy the mind of coaches or players. Each match should be played on its merit.”

Assessing the players’ strength in the squad, Zakauddin says: “After all the trials and errors, finally we have succeeded in having a balanced side. It’s a combination of experience and youth, the result of our efforts over the last six months. In Zeeshan Ashraf, Mohammad Imran and Imran Warsi, we have a solid defence and that is the least worrisome for me while they are backed up by good goalkeeping from Salman Akbar and Nasir Ahmed.

“Any success we will have depends on how the midfield will react to different situations. In fact it has a demanding dual

job to perform; keep the bulwark-like defense and streamline the attacking strategy.”

Zakauddin makes special mention of former captain Mohammad Saqlain who he believes can play a stellar role in taking Pakistan to the podium. “Saqlain, the most experienced pivot, ought to play his part effectively. Backed by Adnan Maqsood on the left, Saqlain will have the duty to occupy the central position, thus denying space to the opponents,” he noted.

“In young right-half Mohammad Javed, I see a fine prospect who has the guts to fight back when the team is struggling and that’s a great quality in a player. Rana Asif’s experience also has added much firepower to the midfield.”

About the forwards, the coach says: “I have full trust in our forwards. In Waqas Sharif and Abbas Haider, we have two very fast, skillful and penetrative wingers. And when they are supported by such experienced inside forwards as Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi, Pakistan’s attack can be deadly in its execution.

“Rehan and Shakeel are particularly dangerous in counter-attack. Strikers Mohammad Zubair, Waqas Akbar and the youthful Shafqat Rasool have all the qualities to enable Pakistan to succeed at the Olympic Games.”—Agencies