KUALA LUMPUR – Pakistan are fed up with playing catch-up and vowed to reduce the number of goals they concede against Malaysia when the two sides meet in their Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) opener today.
Known as the Flying Green Horses or Green Shirts by their fans, the world number 16 side has conceded a total of eight goals to the Speedy Tigers in their last two encounters – the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in May and the Nations Cup in June this year.
Speaking to Scoop from Hulunbuir, China, newly appointed hockey head coach Tahir Zaman said that his team have been focusing on building their upper body strength to counter the high-speed gameplay of the Malaysian team.
Zaman was appointed swiftly by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on September 4, following former head coach Roelant Oltmans’s refusal to accept another short-term assignment from the governing body.
Oltmans, who had been overseeing the Pakistan team in their last two international events, was scheduled to join the team directly in China but demanded a long-term contract at the last minute.
“I have been reviewing our team’s performance against Malaysia over the years, and it has not been up to our standards. Especially in the last two matches – we conceded many goals, and I am fed up with it. I do not want to see this happen again.
“We need to ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes. Malaysia’s young team can punish us with their speed and quick counters if we give them too much space.
“Since the day I came on board, I have been emphasising to my players in training sessions the importance of building upper body strength. This is crucial for us to handle teams like Malaysia with fast players.
“We are known as a physical team, and I want us to maintain our identity. Tomorrow (today) is a very important match for us in the ACT. I expect us to start our campaign with a win,” said Zaman when contacted.
Pakistan have won a total of three ACT titles in 2012, 2013, and 2018.
Zaman also highlighted Faizal Saari as the biggest threat for his team in today’s fixture, citing that the veteran can be deadly with his moves and goals if he is not closely marked.
“Faizal is the most respected player in our country and many young hockey players look up to him. He is a role model, and I am impressed that he is still playing and maintaining his skill.
“We need to be very careful, as he is one of the most experienced players in their young squad. If we manage to stop him, we will have a 60% chance of defeating Malaysia with ease,” Zaman added.
Zaman, a popular player in his day, has previously coached the Pakistan junior team and holds a master’s degree in coaching from the FIH. He was a member of the Pakistan team that won the bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics, as well as the World Cup and Champions Trophy in 1994.
It was recently reported that the PHF blamed delays in releasing funds for this year’s ACT by the Pakistan Sports Board for existing internal problems.
There were also reports of a falling out between team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt and some players with the assistant coaches – Zeeshan Ashraf and Usman.
However, PHF officially denied any rift and stated that the team is united and ready for the tournament.
Other than Pakistan and Malaysia, this year’s ACT also features teams such as Japan, India, South Korea, and the home team China, competing for the coveted trophy in Hulunbuir from tomorrow until September 17. – September 8,2024