KUALA LUMPUR – “India may think that they are flying high, but we are here to shatter their dreams and clinch the ACT from their hands.”
This was the defiant response from Pakistan’s newly appointed national hockey head coach, Tahir Zaman, when asked whether the country’s arch-rivals India will be a hindrance in their Asian Champions Trophy campaign.
Speaking to Scoop from Hulunbuir (China), Zaman said that his side, with an average age of 25 years, does not fear the Paris Olympics bronze medalists, citing that Pakistan has experience in toppling giants in the past.
“Of course, we cannot deny the fact that they are a strong side, but we are equally strong. We may not have qualified or won a medal like them in the recent Paris Olympics, but that doesn’t mean our winning spirit is over.
“Every team and nation will have its good times and bad times in sport, and I can confidently say that the best moments of Pakistan hockey are going to happen under my leadership,” said Zaman when contacted.
For the record, Pakistan has won a total of three ACT titles in 2012, 2013, and 2018 while India are the current defending champions of the tournament beating Malaysia 4-3 in the final to clinch the title last year.
“I know the ins and outs of the Indian hockey team, and hence I always advise my players and coach them with several secret tactics on how to topple them at this year’s ACT. We should not fear them; we have nothing to be scared of.
“I have experience in toppling big sides from my playing days, and I want to replicate that with the senior team as head coach. India may think they are flying high, but we are here to shatter their dreams and clinch the ACT from their hands,” Zaman added.
For the record, Zaman was swiftly appointed 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.
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 (PSB) 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, the PHF officially denied any rift and stated that the team is united and ready for the tournament.
This year’s ACT kicked off today at Hulunbuir City, and will take place until September 17. – September 8, 2024