The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Akbar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Akbar — a perfect team man

K. Keerthivasan

For him goalkeeping means good communication with defenders

CHENNAI: In the pouring rain on Friday night, a 6' 2.5" Pakistani goalkeeper armed from head to toe and sporting the No.1 jersey bristled with energy and enthusiasm even as waves of forwards kept coming at him during the team's training session. Throughout the one-hour period, the custodian never once flinched, or took things for granted. His alacrity, reflexes, aerial clearance, diving and sense of positioning were of high order.

If all and sundry are talking about the 23-year-old Salman Akbar now, it is primarily because of the exceptional saves he made in the Rabobank Trophy in Amsterdam in August this year. His goalkeeping was good throughout and especially in the final against Olympic champion Australia. Says the Australian coach Barry Dancer, "His field play and his display in the penalty corner conversions were very good. He had a major influence in that match. We'll ensure this time he doesn't exert that kind of influence."

Trailing 2-3 at the break, Salman thwarted the efforts of Aussies Brent Livermore and Grant Schubert, as Pakistan emerged a 4-3 winner. The gold had come after 11 years, prompting the PHF Chairman Tariq Kirmani to announce a bonanza. "It's not fair to say that I played well. The truth is that the whole team clicked," says Salman, whose ambition is "to see Pakistan back at the top".

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Recollects Salman, "we came to Amsterdam after finishing last among the four teams in the Hamburg Masters in Germany. I was not happy with my form. Moreover, the pressure was growing. But my team-mates told me, `Salman you are good, you have the talent. You should do well.'"

Guided by Shahid Ali Khan, the goalkeeper coach, Salman regained his form to excel in Amsterdam.

Salman says, for him, good goalkeeping means good communication with the defenders. "Instead of saving goals, I prefer my defenders to do their job."

Though coach Asif Bajwa has gone on record saying that Champions Trophy is not its goal, but the 2006 World Cup is, Salman says that doesn't mean that they will not put their best foot forward. "Champions Trophy means a lot to us. We will give our best," he said.

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