The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Goal-keeper coach is needed: Shahid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 07, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Goal-keeper coach is needed: Shahid

K Keerthivasan

CHENNAI: The concept of a goalkeeper coach for the National hockey team has been in vogue for some time now. As all aspects of hockey are analysed threadbare nowadays, it was only a matter of time that the much-important aspect of providing expert guidance to the goalkeepers found its niche.

And it found its way to India in 1998.

"M.R. Negi was the first goalkeeper-coach for the Indian hockey team during the 1998 Asian Games at Bangkok where India won the gold," says K. Jothikumaran, IHF Secretary. "Since then it's become a norm."

While the Indian team has Charles Cornelius in its ranks for the forthcoming Champions Trophy hockey championship, its Asian counterpart Pakistan has the 42-year-old Shahid Ali Khan in its think-tank. "Goalkeepers play a very important role. Unlike the Europeans style of staying at the back, ours is attacking where we come forward during penalty corners. We need to continue doing that."

Shahid has been the goalkeeper-coach for Pakistan team for the last eight years barring the time when the Dutch Roelant Oltmans reigned supreme as the chief coach during the 2004 Athens Olympics where Pakistan finished fifth.

Home-grown coaches

A member of the gold-winning Pakistan team for the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, and the Barcelona Olympics when Pakistan clinched bronze, Shahid is a firm believer in home-grown coaches training the National team. "We have a different style and system. Foreign coaches will find it difficult to adjust to our conditions. Communication is a major problem. It's my personal opinion," he says.

With Asif Bajwa taking charge as coach of Pakistan this year, the team's performance is looking up. The win at Rabobank Trophy at Amstelveen in August 2005 gave a major boost to the team, coming as it does after a gap of 10 years. "Our last podium finish was the `94 World Cup in Sydney," points out Shahid.

"Ours is a young and energetic team, the average age is 25 years. Defender Md. Sajaad and forward Waqas Sharif are making their debuts. Salman Akbar is the goakeeper to watch out for. Undoubtedly, the pressure here will be more than what it was at Amstelveen. It all depends on how well we sustain it," says Shahid.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport