Team’s missed chances cost us the match: Pakistan Hockey captain
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Captain, Muhammad Waseem and coach Roelant Oltmans blamed poor show of forwards in the second half for their defeat to Holland in the crucial match of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament here Tuesday at National Stadium.

“Failing of forwards to capitalize the chances let us down in the match and we suffered the defeat though we did good in the first half”, said both the of them in their post match comments. Waseem said there was no excuse for the defeat. “ The way the team played it was not bad, and I would say we played one of our best game against Holland—but we failed to control the game in the second session in which we wasted open sitters “, he explained.

Home captain said luck also did not favour Pakistan as penalty corner shooter Sohail Abbas could not get many goals from the short corners. “ All these factors combined for our loss which has shaken us and now the next two games against India and Spain will become more tough as we must win them in order to remain in contention for the final “, he said. Waseem said Rehan Butt, Shakeel Abbasi and other forwards lost the sitters and Dutch mounted pressure in phases to thwart their efforts for scoring goals. Coach Roelant Oltmans said team wasted five sure scoring efforts and missing in action was the main reason for the defeat.” We were so close at one stage and then we went so far “,he referred to the first half performance when Pakistan equalized at 1-1 and then allowed Dutch side to score three more goals in the second half. “It is disappointing to get such a result after two victories and we face tough task ahead as we play India and Spain and I would say the tournament is not yet closed for us and we can make amends to keep alive our hopes for a place in the final”, he said.

Oltmans termed the match an exhibition of top hockey as both sides gave their best and Holland availed most of the match which come across their way.

Answering a question, the Dutchman said it is a wrong perception that a team can be built overnight as most of the people think that hiring a foreign coach can change the fortune of the Pakistan hockey in a short span of time. “Present day hockey has become very competitive and it needs extra-ordinary hard work and efforts to make a team capable to beat the top teams of the world and I would say that Pakistan hockey would take few more years to blend into a winning combination “,he maintained.

Hollands coach Teery Walsh said his team controlled the game in the second half and restricted Pakistan from coming up with better performance to equalize or to take lead. “ No doubt Pakistan played well in the first half and they had a number of chance and keeping in view their game plan we come up with different plan to stop them.

“ We are happy to get our third win a row and are getting gradual progress as per our plans. It is good to see a strong opponent beaten”, he said.

He said Dutch side would be playing Spain and Germany in the next two games and termed Spain a tough rival enjoying good form.●