Poor defence, goalkeeping hurting Pakistan hockey

KARACHI: Pakistan’s forwards are playing attacking game and scoring field goals. The penalty corner drillers are also doing well. But the team is being let down by its defenders. They have failed to manage the pressure of rival teams who after conceding goals play aggressively.

Pakistan lost their important match against archrivals India by 3-2 in the Asian Champions Trophy on Sunday after they had taken 2-1 lead.

Pakistan, the defending champions, had also lost their match against hosts Malaysia after taking two goals lead.

The same mistakes were observed in the national junior hockey team when it toured some European countries recently. It lost against Belgium in an important match after taking two-goal lead in a four-nation tournament.

Hockey experts told ‘The News’ that losing matches after taking lead was an old problem of the Green-shirts.

It was believed that due to the poor physical fitness Pakistan players were exhausted in the later part of the match due to which rivals were able to score and take the game away from Pakistan.

But it is not only a matter of physical fitness because most of the players of both strings are young and PHF’s present management has paid due attention to improve the physical fitness of the players.

The real issue is the lack of skillful full-backs. Those that are currently in the team are unable to withstand the onslaught of the opponents.

Besides, poor goalkeeping is multiplying the problems.

The experts said PHF should remember that there was little time for Pakistan as only two months were left before the Junior Hockey World Cup, which is to be held in December in India.

Then Pakistan’s senior hockey team is to go for qualifying rounds of World Cup and Olympics.

An expert suggested that PHF should hire the services of a foreign coach who could improve the skills of the defenders before the Junior World CUP.

He should be asked to work only with defenders and goalkeepers and teach them how to sustain the pressure in later stages of a game.

The foreign coach should be from a major hockey-playing nation and must have command over modern techniques.

If it is not possible, at least PHF should call the former full-backs of Pakistan and ask them to help the defenders of both strings, the expert said.