Zakauddin confident ahead of Olympics

LAHORE - Pakistan girds up its loins to regain the Olympic hockey title and the national hockey team management is confident that the lads have the ability to beat Great Britain in their opening encounter of Olympics on August 11 in Beijing.
No doubt Olympics have always been the toughest competition. Chief coach Khawaja Zakauddin is optimist about his team's performance during those two weeks ahead. "We have worked very hard for the last one year, I mean since I have been given the responsibility and I must say here the boys have responded very positively. Our five test match series in China, Azlan Shah Cup, an extensive European tour and finally 4-Nation tournament in Ireland, were the sequence of our ultimate goal and that was the Olympics. Let me say that during these six months we tried many combinations, different variations in our tactical approach which of course included specialization on penalty corner conversion."
"Some people say that European tour was too long but from my point of view it was absolutely essential. First, since most of the players were not having enough international exposure, therefore it was vital for them. Secondly, it provided the opportunity to the coaches to make an assessment about each and every player's strong and weak points. Finally, this process did help us to rectify the flaws in our tactical strategy and individual player's shortcomings. Here we succeeded to a larger extent."
"Olympic hockey is very special, it has the aura, it has the grandeur and it demands both physical and psychological perseverance. Our boys must retain these two factors during two weeks of grueling and gladiatorial contests. Olympics exert tremendous pressure on players' psyche whether they play against a strong or a weak outfit. In fact no team should be taken for granted, for example, outranked New Zealand won the Olympic gold at Montreal in 1976 while the big giants fell like dominos. So, this thought should never occupy the mind of coaches or players. Each match should be played on its merit."
"After all the trials and errors, finally we have succeeded in having a well-balanced side. It's a combination of experienced and youth, the result of our last six months struggle. In Zeeshan Ashraf, Muhammad Imran and Imran Warsi, we posses a very solid defense and that is the least worrisome for me while they are backed up by good goalkeeping stuff from Salman Akbar and Nasir Ahmed. Any success we will have, depends on how the midfield will react to different situations. In fact it has a demanding dual job to perform, keep the bulwark-like defense and streamline the attacking strategy. Saqlain, the most experienced pivot, ought to play his part effectively. Flanked by Adnan Maqsood on the left, Saqlain will have the duty to occupy the central position, thus denying space to the opponents. In right half Muhammad Javed, his first test at this level, I see a productive future. He has the guts to fight back when beaten and that's a great quality in a player. Rana Asif's experience has further added strength to the midfield.""I have full trust in our forwards. In Waqas Sharif and Abbas Haider, we have two very fast, skillful and penetrative wingers. And when they are supported by such experienced inside forwards as Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi, Pakistan's attack can be deadly in its execution. Rehan and Shakeel are particularly dangerous in counter-attack. Strikers Muhammad Zubair, Waqas Akbar and the youthful Shafqat Rasool posses all the ingredients, primordial to fight for the Olympic crown."
Meanwhile, Olympian Mudassar Ali Khan said that merit has been destroyed in selection of Pakistan hockey team for Beijing Olympics.He said if the PHF does not give respect to seniors then he would announce retirement after the Beijing Olympics.
Talking to media at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore, Mudassar said that after he was dropped from the team due to his knee injury the federation has totally forgotten him.
He said that the existence of the PHF is only due to the players but the federation does not give any respect to the players.
Mudassar said that he has become fit through his own efforts but the PHF is not giving him his due right.
He said that the team for the Olympics has not been selected on merit.