Grassroots hockey in Pak is dead: Hassan Sardar
Pakistan adapted to the transition from natural grass to synthetic turf much better than India in the 1980s. They continued to be at the top, winning World Cups and Olympic medals till decline set in from the mid-1990s.
The most successful team in World Cup history is now No 13 in the world and barely made it to the World Cup here as the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is almost bankrupt, and a last-minute sponsorship deal bailed out the team.
“The main problem is that there is no hockey at the grassroots in Pakistan. India have started (investing in grassroots) in the last 4-5 years which is why their team is better, and that is why you see a vast difference in what the Indian team was and what it is now,” said Pakistan hockey great Hassan Sardar, who won the 1984 Olympic gold and 1982 World Cup.
“We (in Pakistan) have killed hockey at the grass-root level and need to revive hockey in schools and colleges,” he said.
While Pakistan hockey declined, India won silver at the 2016 and 2018 Champions Trophy and bronze in the 2014-15 and 2016-17 Hockey World Leagues. The Manpreet Singh-led side is also the highest-ranked Asian team at No.5.
Another Pakistan great and PHF secretary general, Shahbaz Ahmad, recently said the team needs players to look up to.
“They will become stars only if they win, no? If they win here, these players will become stars. They need to play well to win, become heroes. Heroes are not born, they are made, when they are built from grassroots. We need to find and exploit that talent,” said Sardar, who is manager of the team for the World Cup.
“The problem is nobody is playing hockey (in Pakistan). The few who do, we notice their talent and bring them in. But the talent at the lower level is not getting the platform. Any school going kid will prefer cricket than hockey. We have to find talent and give facilities at the grassroots.”
Possibly the greatest centreforward Pakistan has produced, Sardar said a lot needs to be done. “We need to create good U-14, U-16 and U-18 teams. Only then there will be competition. them stronger, build stamina and correct their base. India has done this in the last 4-5 years which has proved to be good,” said the 61-year-old.
On the financial problems leading to the World Cup, he said: “Our team has come through a lot of financial issues. This is mental burden if you are coming to the World Cup. All these issues should not be there at all.”
› Our boys are right now playing purely on skill. We have to make The problem is nobody is playing hockey. The few who do, we notice their talent and bring them in. But the talent at the lower level is not getting the platform. HASSAN SARDAR, Pakistan manager on what ails the sport in his country