Latest News: Hockey greats slam appointment of Dutch coach

KARACHI: The appointment of a Dutchman to revive Pakistan's dwindling field hockey fortunes is a waste of money and will not stop the alarming decline, former greats said on Sunday.

Pakistan Saturday named Michel van den Heuvel as coach of their national team in a bid to revive the game here, which hit its lowest ebb in New Delhi in March this year.

Pakistan, winner of three Olympic gold and four world titles, finished 12th and last -- their worst-ever finish -- in the World Cup.

Former Olympian and ex-coach Shahnaz Shaikh said hiring a foreign coach will prove a waste of money.

"Under economic problems, Pakistan government has already slashed sports budget by 60 percent and the hiring of a foreign coach will increase financial woes and will not produce desired results," Shaikh told AFP.

"I am told the Dutchman will be paid 1.6 million rupees (18,000 dollars) per month until 2012, which is huge and unacceptable in this poor country."

Shaikh said Van den Heuvel had failed to lift Dutch hockey.

"In the last ten years the Dutch hockey has failed to produce results and with Van den Heuvel involved, either as assistant coach or coach, this step is unwise and will fail," said Shaikh, a winner of the World Cup in 1971.


Van den Heuvel will be Pakistan's third foreign coach, succeeding fellow Dutchmen Hans Jorritsma, appointed in 1994, and Roelant Oltmans, in 2004.

Another former Olympian, Shahbaz Ahmed, was just as scathing.

"When I played in the Dutch league (1996-2000), Van den Heuvel was my team coach and I found him very ordinary, he failed to handle the team and I told club's president that until he is in charge, we cannot win," Ahmed said.

"By appointing a foreign coach they (officials) are trying to save themselves and when the team loses they will put the blame on the foreign coach," said Ahmed, a member of Pakistan's World Cup winning team in 1994.

Under the new coach Pakistan tour Spain next month before featuring in October's Commonwealth Games in India and November's Asian Games in China.

Latest News:Women hockey team to appear in Asian Games qualifiers

LAHORE – The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Women wing has decided to start the women hockey academy in Lahore while the Pakistan hockey team will take part in the qualifying round of the Asian Games to be held in Bangkok.
PHF women wing secretary Tanzeela Aamer Cheema told at a news conference here at the National Hockey Stadium that trials for the academy would be completed by April 3 and 50 players from different age groups would be selected.
She told that the Pakistan women hockey team would participate in the Asian Games qualifying round which would be held in Bangkok from May 22 to 29.
The camp of the women team will begin from April 15 after the trials will be completed by April 10.


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Latest News: Sports minister meets hockey team tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Federal minister for sports Ejaz Jakhrani will meet the Pakistan hockey team here tomorrow and discuss their resignations.

The federal government wants to know the reasons of the team’s shameful defeat in the World cup and the resignations of the players.

President Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia will also present on the occasion.

Confirming the news of this meeting in Islamabad, national team’s goalkeeper Salman Akbar told Geo News that all the players of the team are meeting with the federal sports minister tomorrow evening in Islamabad

Latest News:Bajwa slammed for running one-man show in PHF

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister Rana Farooq Saeed Khan said Monday that Secretary Asif Bajwa was running a one-man show in Pakistan Hockey Federation.

In the wake of team’s abysmal performance in FIH World Cup, Bajwa should have voluntarily tendered his resignation, he said.

Khan hoped that the government would hold an inquiry into the team’s awful showing in the 12-nation tournament.

Hasan Sardar and Rana Shafiq have set a good precedent by stepping down as selectors after Pakistan finished last in the tournament, he said.

Khan said that PHF President and Secretary should not be selected from one province. If President is from Punjab, the Secretary should be from Sindh, he opined.

Latest News:Rivals on edge for World Cup semi-finals

NEW DELHI: Injury-stricken England hope to build on their amazing resurgence in field hockey when they take on defending champions Germany in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday.

Hot favourites Australia take on a shaky Netherlands in the other semi-final the same night, looking to reach their third successive Cup final after a power-packed display in preliminary matches.

England proved their spectacular European Cup win last year ahead of the sport's powerhouses Germany, the Netherlands and Spain was not a flash in the pan as they finished second in group B behind Australia.

Jason Lee's men won four of their five matches, including a stunning 3-2 win over Australia, despite losing striker Matt Daly before the tournament and penalty corner specialist Richard Mantell later due to injuries.

"It's a revival we have worked hard for," said Lee as England prepared for their first World Cup semi-final since 1986. "But this is the real thing and we can't afford to slip-up."

Their rivals Germany, seeking an unprecedented hat-trick of titles to add to the Beijing Olympic gold medal, will hope to avenge the 5-3 defeat at England's hands in the European final.

The Germans, with just three players who helped win the last World Cup at home in Monchengladbach, are the only unbeaten team in the current tournament with three wins and two draws.

"There have been a few hits and misses, but it is creditable for this young team to make the semi-finals," said German coach Markus Weise.

Australia, coached by the legendary Ric Charlesworth, overcame the shock defeat to England in their first match to win their next four, including a World Cup record score of 12-0 against South Africa.

The Kookaburras charge has been led by penalty corner ace Luke Doerner, whose six goals so far puts him on top of the leading scorers' list alongside Dutchman Taeke Taekema.

Jamie Dwyer, the International Hockey Federation's player of the year for 2009, and fellow-striker Glenn Turner have shown their mettle up front with five goals apiece.

Australia came into the tournament by winning the elite six-nation Champions Trophy at home in Melbourne in December by beating Germany in the final 5-3 after trailing 1-3 at half-time.

"I am not looking too far ahead," said Charlesworth, who played in Australia's only World Cup winning squad in 1986. "The Dutch are never easy to beat, but I am glad the boys are shaping up well."

Australia, who have scored more goals - 23 - in the league than any other team, defeated the Dutch 4-1 the last time the two sides met in a World Cup semi-final in Malaysia in 2002.

The Netherlands, who won the last of their three World Cup titles in 1998, almost missed the semi-finals after losing their last league match to South Korea 2-1 on Tuesday.

If the Asian champions had netted one more goal, they would have levelled the Dutch on goal difference and advanced to the knock-out rounds by virtue of winning their league encounter.

But Taekema's penalty corner expertise and the guile of brilliant midfielder Teun de Nooijer give the Dutch hope against one of the most formidable sides in the game.

Latest News:Pakistan to play Canada for 11th position tomorrow

NEW DEHLI: Pakistan is scheduled to play minnows Canada for 11th-12th places on Thursday in World Cup Hockey.

Pakistan fared the worst among Asian teams in the current tournament, forced into a play-off for the 11th-12th places against lowly Canada after ending the league with four defeats and one win.

Former Olympians and coaches on Wednesday lamented the poor showing by Asian teams at the men's field hockey World Cup, saying Europe and Australia were now the masters of the game.

None of the three Asian teams in the 12-nation tournament - South Korea, India and Pakistan - qualified for Thursday's semi-finals, the first time since 1998 the continent will not be represented.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan have not won a major competition since their last Cup win in 1994 in Sydney.

Akhtar Rasool, who captained Pakistan during their victorious World Cup campaign in 1982, said proper planning was needed to put Asian hockey back on track.

"It's a huge task to start from scratch, but that is what we need to do," he said. "We must restore the qualities of ball control that we were once famous for and also improve fitness and speed."

Latest News:Pakistan in its last face-off against Australia today

NEW DELHI: Four-time champions Pakistan’s World Cup campaign has gone horribly wrong, and call it fate that they have to stand up to the toughest opponents in Pool B — Australia — in their last league encounter on Monday (today).It appears to be a tough ask for the crestfallen Pakistani team against the title favourites after their shocking loss to South Africa, with the 3-4 scoreline belying the domination of the African side.In other pool matches, England will take on Olympic silver medallists Spain while India face South Africa. European champions England have already booked a semifinal berth after four victories on the trot.Out of contention for a top-five finish after three consecutive defeats, India would be desperate to end their losing streak when they take on lowly but spirited South Africa. A win for India will secure their place in the seventh-eighth place play-off match, which would be a considerable improvement from their 11th place finish in the 2006 World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany.Collecting nine points from four outings, Australia also look more or less certain to make the semis, with a 21-5 goal difference. Theoretically, however, their nearest rivals Spain — on six points — have an outside chance to make the grade if they can spank England by a huge margin and Pakistan beat the Kookaburras.But even if the Aussies lose, it could be too much to expect a big Spanish victory over England, by far the most consistent performer in the tournament along with the Netherlands.The mathematical probabilities notwithstanding, all eyes will be again on Pakistan. Pakistan are aware there will be no freebies on offer against Australia.The two teams had a similar start but followed different courses as the World Cup reached the weekend.Pakistan will have to show character and not allow Australia steamroll them.Australia, on the other hand, stung by England in the opening match, bounced back like a champion side, winning against India, South Africa and Spain.The runners-up of the last two editions Australia, coached by legendary Ric Charlesworth, have been a treat to watch with a free-flowing forward line and an impregnable defence at their disposal.Pakistan’s penalty corner expert Sohail Abbas has been a pale shadow of his past, their talismanic striker Rehan Butt has looked unimpressive and the lapses in defence glaring.A dejected Pakistani coach Shahid Ali Khan was at a loss of words to explain Pakistan’s poor show in the tournament.“This is the worst I have seen Pakistan play, both as player and as coach. I have never faced such defeat (against South Africa) even during my playing days,” said Shahid Ali Khan.“We were never the tournament favourites. We came here to improve our rankings, but I never expected such a result,” he said.Pakistan will do well to stop brooding about the past results and take it as an opportunity to redeem themselves and make sure they do not slide from the sixth position they finished in the previous edition.

Larest News:Hockey: Selectors, team management at loggerheads

NEW DELHI: Differences developed between the selection committee and the team management in the wake of Pakistan’s dismal performance in the FIH World Cup hockey tournament.The selection committee sources said that senior players were brought in the team on the insistence of the team management.A heated debate was also held between chairman selection committee Hasan Sardar and the team management in Indian city of New Delhi.As per sources, the selection committee chairman said that the team management did not undertake any planning.The management refused to bring the players in the field, who were recommended by the chief selector.It is expected that chief selector Hasan Sardar together with selectors will make a strategy for future.

Latest News: England, Pakistan, Australia win in FIH World Cup

NEW DELHI: England recorded their second successive win in the men's field hockey World Cup on Tuesday as Australia and Pakistan joined the race for semi-final berths from group B.

England defeated South Africa 6-4 in a high-scoring thriller, while Australia and Pakistan bagged their first points in the tournament after losing their opening matches.

Abdul Haseem scored once in each half as Pakistan, stung by the 1-4 defeat to arch-rivals India on Sunday, recovered to beat Olympic silver-medallists Spain 2-1.

Pre-tournament favourites Australia brushed aside the 2-3 loss to England as they swept aside India 5-2 in front of a sell-out crowd of 19,000 at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The Kookaburras, watched from the stands by visiting Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith, ran up a 3-0 lead by the 26th minute and pumped in two more goals despite Jamie Dwyer missing a penalty stroke.

England emerged group B leaders with six points from two matches, while Australia, India, Pakistan and Spain were lying in second spot with three points each.

Two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

European champions England edged past the South Africans in a game where both sides suffered defensive lapses.

Richard Mantell scored two penalty corners, while Rob Moore, Ashley Jackson, Nick Catlin and Iain Mackay chipped in with a goal each for England.

Marvin Harper scored twice for South Africa, and Lloyd Norris-Jones and Thornton McDade netted one each.

It was the first time in World Cup history that England pumped in six goals in a single match. They had scored five against Pakistan in 1998, but still lost the match as their rivals netted seven.