KARACHI: Like the previous year, 2004 did not bring joy to the fans for misery, humiliation and frustration was all Pakistan had on the hockey field as the sport hit rock bottom losing whatever there was up for grabs - both at home and abroad.

In an attempt to lift the sagging hockey fortunes, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) invited Roelant Oltmans in late December 2003 to take charge as coach. The former Dutch coach took the reins barely nine months before Athens Olympics and as expected could not change the scenario as he too did not have the magic wand.

While the Dutch team basked in glory under Oltmans with Olympic, World and Champions Trophy titles, the Dutchman failed in Pakistan. Instead, he pointed out lack of time to prepare for the Olympics, while PHF chief Gen Aziz Khan contended against him.

Why PHF hired the Dutchman just nine months before the biggest sporting extravaganza and why Oltmans joined the Pakistan squad when he knew it was virtually impossible to build a formidable side in a few months is still an enigma.

Initially, Oltmans seems to be in total command as his "Green Machine" qualified for the Athens Games, finishing third at March's qualifiers in Madrid. But off the field, things started brewing up, Oltmans calling discarded Mohammad Sarwar and ignoring selection committee's existence which had axed the striker before 2003 Champions Trophy and forced him to call it a day.

Yet there was even a bigger controversy in store. Hot-tempered half-back Mohammad Saqlain was booted out by Oltmans after being involved in hitting team-mate Adnan Maqsood during a session on the eve of team's departure for Europe on pre-Olympic tour.

Oltmans vowed Saqlain would not find place in the team again, saying he had been kicked out after repeated warnings to behave or face action.

It was till then that Oltmans was comfortable. But later he became a misfit and had to "compromise" when PHF ousted Sarwar from Olympic squad in August. A strict disciplinarian, Oltmans bowed against the wishes of PHF officials as the team went to the Greek city after dumping Sarwar.

Whether it was Sarwar's absence, lack of time or mismanagement on the part of PHF, Pakistan faltered the way they had been for the past four or five years. While it was smooth sailing at the qualifiers, Pakistan could only finish a poor fifth in Athens.

Like past four years, the team performed well against lowly-rated sides at the Olympics but when the going got tough they buckled under. Mental toughness was still missing which was evident from 4-0 loss to Spain in the crucial match.

Fans and experts demanded heads to roll after the pathetic performance and National Assembly even summoned top PHF officials for grilling. The programme was, however, put on the backburner on the request of PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan. The matter seems to be dead and buried as no word has been received since then from the corridors of power.

Former captain Samiullah, one the four Olympians called by the National Assembly to quiz the PHF officials, was appointed "touring team manager".

While team continued its downward fall, blundering PHF added fuel to fire fielding the team against young Indian side at eight-match home and away series.

Although Pakistan won the series 4-2 in September, they got technically nothing but fatigue before elite six-nation Champions Trophy in Lahore in November.

Battered and bruised after the Athens fiasco, the so-called Green Machine faced yet more ignominy - this time in their own backyard.

But it did not come before unnecessary controversy created by the PHF who recalled Saqlain for the Champions Trophy.

Once again PHF overruled coach and named Saqlain in Trophy squad. Why Oltmans surrendered so tamely was astonishing as well. It was really amazing why the Dutchman took Saqlain back into the fold, contradicting his earlier statement that half-back's career was over as far as his opinion was concerned.

Not only the body language of Oltmans during the series against India told that he was least bothered in Pakistan hockey affairs, but his delayed arrival on Nov 23 for Champions Trophy training also confirmed he was more interested in his four-year contract from 2005 with the Netherlands. And that was not all, the Dutchman constantly flew in and out from his home after each tournament.

To add salt to wounds, PHF waited till the last moment for the Australian officials to lay the new turf in Lahore for the Trophy and laid the synthetic surface barely a couple of weeks ahead of the event, creating problems during the tournament.

While Pakistan had consolation by winning the bronze at Trophy, the only silver lining for Pakistan hockey was penalty corner exponent Sohail Abbas's record-breaking performance which saw him becoming highest scorer in the world in Amritsar against India, shattering Dutchman Pual Litjens' 267-goal world mark. But the fearsome drag-flicker and skipper Waseem Ahmad bid adieu after the Trophy amid reports of hanging their boots to play in league abroad.

Performance of the junior side was as pathetic as was the seniors'. Amid reports of allegedly fielding over-age players in the under-21 event, Pakistan lost the junior Asia Cup final against India after victories against minnows in pool matches.

While Musarrat opted to stick to his post despite running the show single-handedly, PHF boss Gen Aziz Khan quit, saying "it will be unfair to continue since I have retired from Pakistan Army." Aziz's departure was followed by Tariq Kirmani's entry as his replacement. The managing director of oil-giant Pakistan State Oil, Tariq is a new figure in Pakistan hockey.

Pakistan hockey once again saw game of musical chairs being played by the PHF which brought same old faces and failed officials back into the fold. Junior team coach Asif Bajwa was elevated to senior team assistant coach and then the coach after the expiry of Oltmans's one-year contract. Rana Mujahid was appointed Asif's deputy, while Samiullah was retained.

Tahir Zaman, who was "relieved" after Athens debacle, became junior team coach with another discard Khwaja Junaid as his assistant. Interestingly, Jahangir Butt was sacked and Muhammad Shafiq, alleged to have beaten his junior officer of Customs during a match, was appointed manager.

Shahnaz Sheikh and Islahuddin Siddiqui, despite being tested as managers and selectors in the past, were brought in as selectors.