The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : `The game gave me everything in life'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

`The game gave me everything in life'

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, JAN. 25. He loved cricket but drifted away and he thought of hockey. That's how the 24-year-old, Kashif Jawad began his career. Since 1999, this wily centre-forward has played in 175 internationals scoring 110 goals including his most memorable one which fashioned his team's victory over Holland and an entry into the semifinal at the Sydney Olympics.

"I never thought that I will be a hockey international. Help from ex-players like Hanif Khan and Kamran Ashraf enabled me to establish myself in the national team" says Jawad. In fact, he points out an interesting twist to his career.

First he was a goalkeeper but when his family members were worried that he might be injured, he moved in the left-out position and finally to centre-forward at the request of the team management.

There is another interesting sidelight to his career which had his family members in panic. After scoring five goals for his State team in the Senior Nationals back home, he was unconscious for a full 24 hours in 1998. "My mind was absolutely blank, and no one ever thought I would play again," he recalls.

Representing Maratha Warriors in the Premier Hockey League, Jawad feels that it is time India and Pakistan sat together to take necessary measures to revive the sport in a big way. "The Asian style is virtually dead. The Europeans are changing the format and the rules to suit their needs. Unless we swing into action, the future can be really uncertain," he says.

For someone who was the youngest member of the Pakistan squad in the Sydney Olympics at 19, Jawad's concern at the declining trends in Asian style is understandable. And, he has a suggestion too to recapture old glory. "Firstly, we don't need foreign coaches. The biggest problem both in India and Pakistan is that we are not caring for building up a proper base in rural areas. The sport is not really spreading to the interiors while losing in popularity to other fancied disciplines in the cities. What the Asian coaches should learn is only commitment and dedication from the foreigners and nothing else. They have the skills but rarely show the required professionalism," he points out.

Jawad feels that by hiring foreign coaches, "We are ourselves killing the Asian style as we keep telling them our secrets while very little is known about their tactics, techniques and training methods. We have destroyed our solid foundations by flirting with these foreign coaches," he says.

Essentially, budding players should respect seniors and remember that even whey are admonished it is simply because of their affection to you is Jawad's appeal to the youngsters. "Even now I am wilful learner. And believe me, it is a dream come true to play with Dhanraj Pillay, who is one of my favourites. The way he receives the ball even now is something out of the world," compliments an unabashed admirer of the mercurial Indian forward.

Does he sincerely believe the future for the sport is bright in the sub-continent? "It all depends on how quickly and seriously we respond to the declining trend. That's why I feel that the PHL is a good concept. This can mark the beginning of a new chapter in Asian hockey. We are told that it will be held next August in Pakistan. If that comes true, then things do look very good," Jawad says.

Jawad says he is feeling as comfortable as he would be back home in Karachi. A product of the famous Habib Bank, he reminds that the Pakistan and Indian players never had any problems on and off the field. "It is the public which feels the pressure and sometimes tends to overreact," he says.

Kashif is banking on Dhanraj Pillay to keep his promise of introducing him to the mega star Amitabh Bachan. "Honestly, I am a big fan of Sachin Tendulkar. Unfortunately, I never met him, only seen him support our team (Maratha Warriors) on TV," he says with a smile.

Any souvenirs he is planning to take home? The sarees, salwar kameez and kurtas should be my first choice," he says.

And, he has no regrets. "Hockey gave me everything in life and I am willing to give something back once I think of quitting it next year", he says.

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