LAHORE Singling out next year’s Olympics as the primary target, an upbeat-looking Pakistan hockey team manager Khawaja Junaid on Monday said the upcoming tour to Europe and the Champions Trophy will be instrumental in building a formidable squad for the London Games.
“Thinking realistically, we have time to raise a formidable team for the Olympics and to test the real physical and mental fitness of the players,” Junaid told Dawn here on Monday.
“The upcoming tour to Europe followed by the Champions Trophy later this year will help us determine the real standing of our players against tough opponents like Australia, Germany, Holland and England,” Junaid said.
“The fitness level of players at the end of the first phase of our training during the camp in Islamabad has increased. While the second phase of the preparation is our tour to Europe [starting on June 15], which will reveal our players’ skills against stronger teams,” he stated.
The manager reckoned that the first part of the Europe tour in Ireland where China, France and the hosts would feature along with Pakistan in a four-nation tournament, would not be that demanding.
However, he admitted a tough competition was expected in Holland where besides the hosts, Germany and England — all above Pakistan in world ranking — would be competing.
Junaid believed winning or losing against top teams did not matter while contending that the team management had arranged the tour to motivate the players.
“We will give our best against Holland, Germany and England. A defeat there will not be worrisome for us. In fact, it [the defeat] will tell us our weaknesses.
“Furthermore, our real target is the [2012] Olympics for which by the grace of God we have qualified directly after winning the Asian Games last year,” he said.
The manager expressed that Pakistan’s entry into the Champions Trophy was also a blessing for the players who could test their abilities in the game’s elite competition before the all-important Olympics.
“In the Champions Trophy all top teams will be vying against each other and so we are targeting this toughest event as the best preparation opportunity for the Olympics,” he remarked.
The manager highlighted that the senior players were very positive and eager to win more titles as next year’s Olympics might be their last big event.
“After winning the Asian Games crown and producing an excellent show in the Azlan Shah Cup, all the players including seniors have tasted the flavour of victory and the way nation and government welcomed them, now they are eager to grab as many wins as they can.
“Therefore, all the players are striving besides following the instructions to improve their physical fitness,” he said.
To a question, he acknowledged Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel’s role in building the team was very positive while insisting that the entire team management was working as one-unit to groom the team.
“Let me assure the nation that our team management and players have gelled well, the team’s performance in the Asian Games and Azlan Shah Cup reflects this reality,” Junaid concluded.
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