LAHORE: Pakistan will prove Australian security apprehensions wrong by holding the upcoming Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament in a smooth and befitting manner, stated Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Muhammad Aziz Khan during a news conference at Pearl Continental Hotel here on Saturday. Also present on the occasion were PHF secretary general Musarrat Ullah Khan and chief selector Akhtar Rasool.
Olympic champions Australia pulled out of the December 4-12 elite six-nation event citing security concerns. “Australian are not justified in pulling out of the event which has been approved by the FIH,” said Aziz who stressed that nothing was wrong with security arrangements in Pakistan. He said the security concerns expressed by Australia would prove unfounded as India, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand and hosts Pakistan were taking part in the tournament. “Extensive security arrangements will be in place for the event. We have assured a foolproof security arrangement for all the foreign teams,” added Aziz.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PHF has hosted the Champions Trophy, which it initiated in 1978, ten times. Pakistan was originally scheduled to stage the 2001 edition which was relocated to the Netherlands in the wake of September 11 attacks on the United States and the subsequent war in neighbouring Afghanistan. Australia has also previously refused to play a cricket tri-series and a Test series in Pakistan on security grounds with both competitions later held on neutral grounds.
“Even in the developed countries there are incidents of law and order, and if similar incidents take place in Pakistan it does not mean that there is no safety and security. Negative impression about Pakistan is absolutely wrong.” He said the Australian players had played squash and polo in Pakistan recently so why there were fears for hockey players.
Aziz said Champions Trophy was taking place in Pakistan after a long time and collective efforts were needed to enhance the image of the country among the comity of nations. He termed the holding of the event a good omen for the cause of hockey in Asia. He was of the view that such events should be held on a regular basis. “FIH is taking steps with the help of the members countries to have more hockey activities in the region.” Answering a question, he expressed the hope the home team would perform well in the Champions Trophy. “Our team is going through a process of transformation and senior players are being replaced, but despite this factor the team is showing good results and their recent performance against India in a friendly series was encouraging,” he maintained.
Aziz said the artificial turf would be replaced before the Champions Trophy and all the renovation work at National Hockey Stadium was near completion. “We will conduct the Champions Trophy in a successful manner as we have organised a number of elite hockey events in the past. We will once again live up to our reputation as a great host nation and prove that Pakistan is an ideal place for staging top sports events,” he concluded.
MCT: Pakistan beat NZ by 5-0 in hockey practice match:
Pakistan
November 29, 2004
New Kerala
Pakistan beat New Zealand by 5-0 goals in a practice match played for preparation of the Champions Hockey Tournament. According to advice of the two team managements' the preparatory match played at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore was divided in three halves of 25 minutes. According to The News, Pakistan team tried various combinations in the match and outclassed the guests. Pakistan got six penalty corners, two of which were converted into goals by Sohail Abbas and Adnan Maqsood. Shabbir Ahmed, Shakil Abbasi and Tariq Aziz netted one goal each for Pakistan. While guests were failed to score any goal.(ANI)
if anyone's willing to pay to watch it, its 6 Euros per game. you can buy it through www.fieldhockey.tv
too bad im BROKE...so relyin on my bros in the mufta union ;)
Spain 5~ Germany 2
Germany, having services of only two players from Athen’s 16, suffered another big defeat on the second day of 26th Champions Trophy when they were thrashed 2-5 by Spain at Lahore on 5 December 2004. It was 12th meeting between the two nations in FIH’s annual show and Spain’s fourth successive win over eight-times Champion in CT’s history.Germany still up with eight wins in CT’s matches between the two sides and surprisingly Spain’s four triumphs came during last six years.
Netherlands 5~ India 4
LAHORE: Defending champions Holland beat India in a tough contest in Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament by 5-4 goals at the National Hockey Stadium here on Sunday. In the very engaging match India’s Sundeep Michael netted first goal in the fifth minute of the match providing initial lead to his team. Holland’s Geert leveled the match by a penalty corner hit. In another penalty corner push by Teake Taekema defending champions got the upper hand but India’s VS Vinay again leveled the contest by scoring a goal.Dutch players De Nooier and Karel Klaver scored two goals and consolidated their team’s position in the match. India’s Arjun netted a goal by a penalty stroke reducing the Dutch lead to 4-3 but Nooier scoring a field goal again strengthened his team’s lead. Vikram Pillay scored fourth goal for India later and Holland won the match by 5-4 goals
Not a convincing performance, specially in the first half. But after going one goal down in second half, pakistanis sort of wake up and scored three goals in 7 minutes. Against Spain and Netherlands, this sort of performance will not be sufficient.
Same winners as were in yesterday's matches. Pakistan lying third because of slight goal difference but insha'allah after beating holland we shall be on top.
