| Hasan Sardar - We believe in enduring success |
| Written by English NewsPaper/Dawn/Others | |||
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A couple of good performances and victories are not enough, we are trying to make our base; strong and effective under a long-term planning, this was stated by Pakistanis chief Selector Hassan Sardar while talking to "The News on Sunday'.
When his attention was drawn towards Pakistan's coaching problem, Hasan said that present PHP administration has introduced the concept of paid coaches. "In past years, Pakistan used to pay foreign coaches while locals were appointed on honorary basis. But now local coaches are also being paid and thiS is the right way to appoint somebody," he added. "Logically if somebody is being paid he will react and perform accordingly and show more responsibility."
"Even many of the stars were forced to announce retirement prematurely," he blamed. "Akhtar Rasool retired after 1982 World Cut victory though he could have been played the Los Angeles Olympics easily. Similarly, the stars like Kaleemullah, Manzoor Junior, Hanif Khan and I were fit enough to represent Pakistan till the 1992 Olympics." "In short, some ten top class hockey players were shown the door in a period of Just five years from 1982-87 but without finding their appropriate replacements. Had those giants of the game not been forced to leave the top level hockey prematurely, the circumstances of the present Pakistan hockey could have been different, he added. "In this regard I want to mention Brig Atif's role. No doubt he was instrumental in Pakistan's victories in the '80s but at the same time he did not make planning and that's why Pakistan hockey could not stabilize itself even after such a long period." "India also committed the same mistake when they won the World Cup in 1975 but Immediately after winning the title, their management forced seven players to quit and next year they finished poor 7th in Olympic Games," he Informed. Hassan, who was appointed chief selector in October 2008, while recounting the circumstances of his retirement said, "I was forced to quit hockey in 1987 at the age of 29. At that time I could have represented my country for another 3 to 4 years comfortably," 
 Set 1/2       One can gauge me and other players (KaJeemullah & Hanif Khan etc) fitness and performance from the fact that we won the National Hockey Championship in 1992. In 1986, I was dropped and resultantly Pakistan finished 11th In World Cup the same year. Next year I was recalled as captain and we managed to make it to Azlan Shah Cup final and lost the decisive game In extra time against Germany, he continued. Hassan said every player has to say good-bye to game one day but it does not look appropriate to retire half dozen players in one or two years. To another question, the soft-spoken Hassan said, Pakistan Hockey federation is performing really well for the betterment of hockey in the country. "It is for the first time in Pakistan history that National Hockey Academies have been introduced in the country. And it is a fact that the said academies are need of the hour." When asked to predict about the future of hockey which is also a Pakistan's national sport, Hassan was of the view that our beginning is very heartening but the fact is that Pakistan hockey is passing through a rebuilding process. "As we are all doing hectic efforts and that too in the right direction now we can say that Pakistan regain its lost glory in hockey to the next four to five years. To a question regarding Pakistan's 8th place in world hockey, Hasan said that during the last 16 years Pakistan could not get a respectable place in world hockey due to various reasons."Now it is our senior team's turn to raise their level of game and win titles. They must take Inspiration from the junior team."
The writer is a The News, Lahore By Ghallb Mehmood Bajwa 96
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Though our junior hockey team won two titles last month, and we expect the same kind of performance from our senior side, our main target is to formulate a strong outfit for future.