India will do well in the coming months: Shahbaz Ahmed Sr.

“India Pakistan bilateral series won’t help India or Pakistan reach the top three position of the World,” says Shahbaz Ahmed Sr., the former star player of Pakistan, the captain of the Gold-medal winning Pakistan team at the ’94 World Cup.

“Such series are good only for development of a big-match temperament and boosting the confidence of young players. You have to play the top teams of the World to reach the top,” says an unimpressed former forward, who ruled the top-ranked spot for close to a decade in the 90’s.

“I remember the day (at the World Cup ’94, Sydney) when the Pakistan flag rose high in the sky and they played the Pakistan’s national anthem,” Shahbaz ruminates, as if it was just yesterday and with regret on his face he sighs, “Now with kind of federation in place, Pakistan Hockey is going nowhere.”

“They have hired and fired coaches like crazy. They have wasted money on foreign trainers calling them coaches only to realize later that they are not good enough,” comments a disappointed Shahbaz who currently lives in Saudi Arabia and works for Pakistan Airlines.

“I have stopped following Pakistan Hockey now. The state of affairs is disappointing. It’s after a long time I have come to the stadium,” continues Shahbaz with the ignominious state in which Pakistan Hockey is in.

“What did they do in World Cup 2010? They hired a former goalkeeper (Shahid Ali Khan) as the Chief Coach, then after the disastrous performance in the World Cup, fired him, only to re-instantiate him six months later!” says Shahbaz, quoting that PHF lacks long term vision.

“India has a plan for the future. They are developing young players. Even if their team doesn’t do well in this tournament, they will surely perform very well in six months to one year time frame,” he says optimistically.

“On the other hand, Pakistan’s Hockey planning is only for today. They will surely start losing in the coming months,” says ‘The Maradona of Hockey’ in anger.

Like many of his Indian counterparts, Shahbaz believes that only a Pakistani coach should coach Pakistan.

“Our strength is our skills. We need someone who can mold our skills. For that, we don’t need a foreign coach. We need a system and direction to groom our coaches. They don’t work with the heart and passion as a Pakistani coach with do,” says the much admired former player.

So, who according to him can do the job?

“Former players like TahirZaman, Kamran Ibrahim or Qamar Ibrahim, who have done certification courses with the FIH should be our choice,” tells Shahbaz.
“I am very patriotic and feel for the players for Pakistan. I want to get back but working with the current set-up is next to impossible. I am just waiting for a day when I will come back, get associated with Pakistan hockey and give something to the sport that has given me everything, “says an emotional Shahbaz.

And when can his fans see him again in India?

“I was there at the World Series Hockey. I enjoyed, admired and felt extremely happy to see what’s being done in hockey. India has taken the right step. Such league just don’t develop players, they develop coaches, umpires and officials and take them to a higher level. If invited, I will surely love to come back to India to witness the League again.”

Anybody listening?