Secretary, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Mohammad Asif Bajwa has said the national teams finish at third place in the Melbourne Champions Trophy will help in reviving the sagging the fortune of the game in Pakistan.
“It is indeed a big performance which comes after eight years and team’s third place achievement will generate a new concept about our hockey among the youth of our country,” he said on Wednesday after his return from Melbourne after the watching the performance of the team in the event,
“After years in shambles we have seen a good performance on part of our team and it is like a silver line on the sky,” he added.
Bajwa said getting the third place has added to the confidence of the team which is a blend of experience and youth and PHF is gradually inducting young players in the side to prepare a balanced combination for 2014 World Cup.
He set aside the criticism of some quarters that Pakistan team thrived in the presence of weak teams like Germany and Belgium in the Champions Trophy.
“It is a foolish thought, they (some quarters) should acknowledge the performance of Pak team of taking the third place besides praising PHF efforts for infusing young blood in the side,” he said.
He further added: “It is our team, Pakistan hockey team and we should endeavor to boost its morale and should not indulge in a negative propaganda campaign against it.”
He said it is a good omen that team has started producing good results after a deadlock and now it the right time to take more effective measures to enhance its performance for its future endeavours .
Bajwa urged the Pak team members not to feel complacent and put in more hard work to life the level of their performance to contribute in the overall performance of the team.
“ Before our team entered the Champions trophy some individuals were saying that it will finish at the last position but our team proved these pre-tournaments thoughts wrong by exhibiting collective show,” he said adding “It is quite a happy news for hockey after 2004 when we finished third in the Champions trophy “.
Secretary PHF said it is time to support Pakistan hockey for launching a rare guard action for regaining lost glory . “ Hockey has suffered a lot due to dismal performance of the team and now the stage has come that we should think of a bright future of the game by encouraging the performance of the team in Champions Trophy”.
