ISLAMABAD Former skipper and Olympian Shahbaz Ahmad Senior has offered his services to help national hockey team in getting out of its current crisis and bringing it back to victory spree.
“I am ready to provide tips to boys but for that I will not accept any designation,” he said talking to APP.
He said Pakistan had a good opportunity to get a respectable place in the recently concluded Azlan Shah Hockey Cup in Malaysia, after their disastrous performance in the World Cup.
“But the way the team played in Azlan Shah Cup shows that no proper planning was done,” he said.
He said setting up hockey academies and including and excluding of players from the national outfit would serve no purpose unless there is a vision to excel in the game.
Pakistan finished last in the 12-nation World Cup Hockey Tournament that held in India in February-March, while they ended at No. 5 in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup.
Shahbaz, who played a major role in Pakistan's victories in the 1994 World Cup (Sydney) and the Champions Trophy 1994 (Lahore) said that the performance of the national hockey team would not improve unless some drastic measures are taken.
“I suggest that people like Salahuddin, Sameeullah and Ayaz Mehmood should be working with the Pakistan Hockey Federation to save the national game,” he said.
He said that there was no need to hire the services of a foreign coach as the country had plenty of former players, including Olympian Tahir Zaman and Qamar Abrahim, who could train the players on modern lines.
Shahbaz, who is also known as the man with the 'electric heels' due to his great ball control and speed during his times, informed that besides him several other former players were ready to provide their services for free.
“We want to do all this for the sake of our country, which has given us everything,” he said.
He said that different departments should also support hockey players by providing them regular jobs and other perks and privileges. The players will be able to fully focus on their game, when they will be free from financial constraints, he added. - APP
