Pakistan qualify for 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup

[Abdullah719]

Lausanne, Switzerland: Pakistan men’s hockey team have become the latest team to qualify for the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.

The Green Shirts, currently ranked 14th in the FIH Hero World Rankings, finished in seventh position in the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Final in London, meaning they faced an anxious wait to see if that was good enough to earn them qualification to the blue riband event that takes place in India next year from 28 November to 16 December.

The results at the Rabobank EuroHockey Championships, which are currently taking place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, have gone very much in favour of Pakistan, with all four of the semi-finalists having already qualified for the World Cup via the Hockey World League route.

Under FIH regulations, the team that wins its continental qualifier automatically qualifies for the World Cup. However, the semi-finals of the European continental qualifier will be contested by Germany, England, Netherlands and Belgium, teams that have already achieved World Cup qualfication thanks to top five finishes in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals. This means that the World Cup ticket goes to the highest placed finisher from the Hockey World League Semi-Finals that has not already achieved World Cup qualification. Pakistan are the higher ranked of the two seventh place finishers from the Hockey World League Semi-Final events that took place in London and Johannesburg, with 16th ranked France next in line for that all-important World Cup ticket.

Pakistan become the 13th team to qualify for next year's global showpiece, joining host nation India, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, Spain and New Zealand. They have an envious record in the competition, having claimed the title on four occasions, more than any other nation. It is a welcome return to World Cup action for this famous hockey playing nation, following their failure to qualify for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014, which was played in The Hague, Netherlands.

The final three men's World Cup qualification places will be decided by the outcomes of the upcoming Continental Championship events in Oceania (9-15 October 2017), Asia (17-22 October 2017), and Africa (19-29 October 2017).

http://www.fih.ch/events/world-cup/...odisha-hockey-mens-world-cup-bhubaneswar-2018

 

[Nostalgic]

They have an envious record in the competition, having claimed the title on four occasions, more than any other nation.

It was better than envious up until 1994. Up to that point, in eight world cups, we had won four, been runners-up in two, and semi-finalists in one more.

How the mighty have fallen. It kills me to see what has happened to such a glorious tradition.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Phew !! Nelami of Izzat avoided for another 4 years......

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

It was better than envious up until 1994. Up to that point, in eight world cups, we had won four, been runners-up in two, and semi-finalists in one more.

How the mighty have fallen. It kills me to see what has happened to such a glorious tradition.

It is almost like that class bully who torments everyone for a few years because they are bigger in size until everyone comes back from the summer vacation one year and is taller and stronger than the bully ....

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

It is almost like that class bully who torments everyone for a few years because they are bigger in size until everyone comes back from the summer vacation one year and is taller and stronger than the bully ....

Bully apparently got into a life threating accident and his growth has been stunted since then....Saddening to say the least!!

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Bully apparently got into a life threating accident and his growth has been stunted since then....Saddening to say the least!!

or gotten into bad habits )

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

or gotten into bad habits )

Yeah that too I guess....Damn those caffeine shots

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Pakistan, that.

 

[Syed1]

System hi nahi hai hockey ka... no quality players are coming through. The same officials and coaches have been running the show for decades. We would probably crash out of the WC as the bottom ranked side

 

[Asim_khan]

Need to retire our hockey sticks and pick up footballs. Change our stadia into football grounds

 

[shaz619]

Congratulations

 

[Nostalgic]

I read somewhere that we are now limited to a pool of 35-40 viable players nationwide, who are good enough to compete internationally at a reasonable standard. Years ago, you could've had that many good players either from Toba Tek Singh/Gojra or from Habib Public School Karachi.

 

[Yossarian]

It is almost like that class bully who torments everyone for a few years because they are bigger in size until everyone comes back from the summer vacation one year and is taller and stronger than the bully ....

It was better than envious up until 1994. Up to that point, in eight world cups, we had won four, been runners-up in two, and semi-finalists in one more.

How the mighty have fallen. It kills me to see what has happened to such a glorious tradition.

Bully apparently got into a life threating accident and his growth has been stunted since then....Saddening to say the least!!

or gotten into bad habits )

Actually the rest, being beaten up so often, decided to get together and bring in new rules that outlawed the Bully's staple food, and the only food allowed was that which was grown on their plush estates, and which the Bully could not afford to buy/eat on a regular basis, thus making him weak and skinny.

(Pakistan's demise started with the change in rules that made artificial pitches mandatory for international matches. Pakistan had less than a handful of such pitches in the whole of the country. Even now, how many Pakistani schools and clubs have such pitches? Contrast that with the richer countries where every school and club has at least one)

 

[Napa]

System hi nahi hai hockey ka... no quality players are coming through. The same officials and coaches have been running the show for decades. We would probably crash out of the WC as the bottom ranked side

I read somewhere that we are now limited to a pool of 35-40 viable players nationwide, who are good enough to compete internationally at a reasonable standard. Years ago, you could've had that many good players either from Toba Tek Singh/Gojra or from Habib Public School Karachi.

I don't think Pakistani hockey has declined. Rather other countries like Netherlands and Australia with a much better fitness culture have taken up playing hockey.

India has the same problem as Pakistan and has also fallen behind. However, there is the possibility of a professional league in India which may produce better quality (including fitness) players.

 

[Nostalgic]

(Pakistan's demise started with the change in rules that made artificial pitches mandatory for international matches. Pakistan had less than a handful of such pitches in the whole of the country. Even now, how many Pakistani schools and clubs have such pitches? Contrast that with the richer countries where every school and club has at least one)

That certainly contributed, and I distinctly remember reading articles from the late 80's bemoaning the lack of synthetic turf (or AstroTurf, to use the genericized trademark) on more than a handful of grounds in Pakistan. However, Pakistan remained competitive until at least the early 2000's, well after it became mandatory to use the synthetic turf for international games, so I'm not sure if that alone explains the rapid decline.

Another thing that changed, to our detriment, was the increasing muscularity of the game, so much so that they started calling it football with sticks. With the increasing physicality comes the need for fitness, which we've never been good at at the best of times, and even much less so when the players are reportedly only given dates and Rooh Afzah for food during training camps.

Tactics changed, and our 2-3-5 formation just wasn't effective anymore. I remember we hired a Dutch coach, who tried to emulate his countrymen's "total hockey" (based on Johann Cryuff's Total Football) style, and tried to tinker with the traditional 2-3-5 formation, and there was an uproar. We used to rely on that marauding forward line to score the goals, while the Dutch relied on penalty corners, notably from Floris Jan Bovelander. We used to complain about it... until we got Sohail Abbas. The point being, we can bemoan the changes all we want, get misty-eyed about the heyday of five forwards, but we must adapt.

 

[Nostalgic]

I don't think Pakistani hockey has declined. Rather other countries like Netherlands and Australia with a much better fitness culture have taken up playing hockey.

The Dutch and the Aussies and the Germans were always there, and were formidable competitors too, so they haven't taken up hockey, they were established, respected hockey nations all along. The decline is very much there.

 

[Yossarian]

That certainly contributed, and I distinctly remember reading articles from the late 80's bemoaning the lack of synthetic turf (or AstroTurf, to use the genericized trademark) on more than a handful of grounds in Pakistan. However, Pakistan remained competitive until at least the early 2000's, well after it became mandatory to use the synthetic turf for international games, so I'm not sure if that alone explains the rapid decline.

The then international players from the richer countries had also been playing their international matches and senior club matches on natural grass. It was when their new generations of younger players, who had been brought up playing on astroturf through all levels of the game, started to replace the older, grass pitches brought up, players that the effects started to come through.

Don't forget, India too was affected in the same way, even though India already had many more astroturf pitches and facilities than Pakistan, but nothing on the scale of the other Western countries.

Another thing that changed, to our detriment, was the increasing muscularity of the game, so much so that they started calling it football with sticks. With the increasing physicality comes the need for fitness, which we've never been good at at the best of times, and even much less so when the players are reportedly only given dates and Rooh Afzah for food during training camps.

Fair point.

Tactics changed, and our 2-3-5 formation just wasn't effective anymore. I remember we hired a Dutch coach, who tried to emulate his countrymen's "total hockey" (based on Johann Cryuff's Total Football) style, and tried to tinker with the traditional 2-3-5 formation, and there was an uproar. We used to rely on that marauding forward line to score the goals, while the Dutch relied on penalty corners, notably from Floris Jan Bovelander. We used to complain about it... until we got Sohail Abbas. The point being, we can bemoan the changes all we want, get misty-eyed about the heyday of five forwards, but we must adapt.

Tactics and formations change all the time. The newly dominant Western countries, like Germany, Netherlands, Australia etc. didn't play with the same formations and similar tactics to each other. I'm afraid that is a non-argument.

 

[Nostalgic]

The then international players from the richer countries had also been playing their international matches and senior club matches on natural grass. It was when their new generations of younger players, who had been brought up playing on astroturf through all levels of the game, started to replace the older, grass pitches brought up, players that the effects started to come through.

Don't forget, India too was affected in the same way, even though India already had many more astroturf pitches and facilities than Pakistan, but nothing on the scale of the other Western countries.

Fair point.

Tactics and formations change all the time. The newly dominant Western countries, like Germany, Netherlands, Australia etc. didn't play with the same formations and similar tactics to each other. I'm afraid that is a non-argument.

Fair enough. Synthetic turf definitely has had a role to play, I was just saying it didn't explain everything.

Could you comment more on tactics and formations? I haven't watched hockey in ages. What formations do the Aussies, Dutch and Germans play? From what I remember, the argument doing the rounds was that the five-forward strategy wasn't viable anymore, from at least the 90s onwards, but our boys, the limited number that exists, still play 2-3-5 growing up, and then adjusting to another one is hard for them.

 

[PakLFC]

Need to put some major money back in to Hockey. Players are living miserable lives then we wonder why the Sport is a mess in Pak. Hopefully, the next government will understand the importance of things like Sport, Tourism and Cinema.

 

[Yossarian]

Fair enough. Synthetic turf definitely has had a role to play, I was just saying it didn't explain everything.

Could you comment more on tactics and formations? I haven't watched hockey in ages. What formations do the Aussies, Dutch and Germans play? From what I remember, the argument doing the rounds was that the five-forward strategy wasn't viable anymore, from at least the 90s onwards, but our boys, the limited number that exists, still play 2-3-5 growing up, and then adjusting to another one is hard for them.

Sorry, can't help you there. I'm a football (and rugby) man.
Years ago, when being interviewed for a uni place, I was asked (knowing I was of Pakistani descent) "We've got some great hockey facilities and a couple of good hockey teams". To which I replied "Never played the game in my life. How's the rugby setup?"

 

[Yossarian]

Need to put some major money back in to Hockey. Players are living miserable lives then we wonder why the Sport is a mess in Pak. Hopefully, the next government will understand the importance of things like Sport, Tourism and Cinema.

Government shouldn't be funding club and national teams such as hockey. Money needs to be spent on healthcare and education. If the "Players are living miserable lives" then there is a simple solution: Don't play the bl**dy game as a livelihood, do something else! And if you still wish to play, then play part time and/or for enjoyment.

 

[PakLFC]

Government shouldn't be funding club and national teams such as hockey. Money needs to be spent on healthcare and education. If the "Players are living miserable lives" then there is a simple solution: Don't play the bl**dy game as a livelihood, do something else! And if you still wish to play, then play part time and/or for enjoyment.

Government should be supporting Sport, Cinema and Tourism. This is different to funding clubs on a personal level. I don't understand the rest of your drivel. Everyone knows our Hockey players are financially struggling.

 

[Yossarian]

Government should be supporting Sport, Cinema and Tourism. This is different to funding clubs on a personal level. I don't understand the rest of your drivel. Everyone knows our Hockey players are financially struggling.

Stop being childish with such remarks. Who cares if "Hockey players are financially struggling". Try telling that to a farm or factory worker who's working 12 hours a day and still struggling to feed his family and send his kids to school. If hockey players are struggling financially, then who's stopping them from going and earning a living in some other way?

No sportsman, or sportswoman, should expect hard working tax payers to pay for them to indulge in their favourite pastime. Supply and demand. If the public enjoy watching them play, then the public will pay to go and watch them play (Messi, Ronaldo,....... heck even Shahid Afridi!!). If not, then they'd better find another way to make a living.

 

[PakLFC]

Stop being childish with such remarks. Who cares if "Hockey players are financially struggling". Try telling that to a farm or factory worker who's working 12 hours a day and still struggling to feed his family and send his kids to school. If hockey players are struggling financially, then who's stopping them from going and earning a living in some other way?

No sportsman, or sportswoman, should expect hard working tax payers to pay for them to indulge in their favourite pastime. Supply and demand. If the public enjoy watching them play, then the public will pay to go and watch them play (Messi, Ronaldo,....... heck even Shahid Afridi!!). If not, then they'd better find another way to make a living.

Don't be silly with your illogical views. I care and so do many others that Hockey players are struggling financially. They should be paid well for their efforts in representing the country otherwise the Sport will continue to struggle. Just because people in other professions are struggling does not mean they have to suffer as well. If Cricketers get paid so well then so should Hockey players after all Hockey is our national Sport.

It is for the government to build Sporting institutions otherwise don't cry when we are eliminated in the first round. Yes! Those who represent the country at international level deserve their share off the cake and revenue in Sporting contests, understood?. The public does pay to watch but the government does not utilise or spend the money correctly. You obviously have no clue of what the NS government is/was like.

 

[Yossarian]

Don't be silly with your illogical views. I care and so do many others that Hockey players are struggling financially. They should be paid well for their efforts in representing the country otherwise the Sport will continue to struggle. Just because people in other professions are struggling does not mean they have to suffer as well. If Cricketers get paid so well then so should Hockey players after all Hockey is our national Sport.

Cricketers get paid well because the sport generates revenue through spectators, advertising, tv broadcasters, sponsors, hospitality, replica kit and a whole host of other activities. The best players also become marketing tools for sponsors to promote their brands and goods, and get paid handsomely for doing so.

It is for the government to build Sporting institutions otherwise don't cry when we are eliminated in the first round.Yes!

The governments job is first to build and finance schools and hospitals, and yes that includes school sporting facilities as part of education.

But it not the job of governments to build and finance commercial sporting clubs and professional players and teams.

Those who represent the country at international level deserve their share off the cake and revenue in Sporting contests, understood?. The public does pay to watch but the government does not utilise or spend the money correctly. You obviously have no clue of what the NS government is/was like.

So you're saying hockey makes tons of money and the government spends it all on other things?

Supply and demand. Supply and demand. If the public was so interested in watching hockey as you seem to think, wouldn't the tv broadcasters and sponsors be queing up with great big fat cheques in their hands for the hockey players and the sport as a whole? They're not doing so because the demand is not there. They have nothing to gain. There's no chance of getting any returns on their investment.

And last but not least, why can't you comprehend the fact that if the hockey players are struggling financially and can't make any money from the sport, then there's nothing to stop them from doing something else that will provide them with a decent living? That's the case with every other profession, why not hockey players?

 

[Waseem]

I read somewhere that we are now limited to a pool of 35-40 viable players nationwide, who are good enough to compete internationally at a reasonable standard. Years ago, you could've had that many good players either from Toba Tek Singh/Gojra or from Habib Public School Karachi.

Absolutely! Gojra a very small town provided great players but government couldn't provide ONE decent ground to players there, many promised a hockey ground for about 2 decades but still nothing. Talent and passion is still there but absolutely no structure or desire by authorities.

Faisalabad hasn't produced talent it used to despite having better facilities because the sport gets no coverage at any level and even schools aren't focusing on hockey as much as they used to.

 

[Nostalgic]

Absolutely! Gojra a very small town provided great players but government couldn't provide ONE decent ground to players there, many promised a hockey ground for about 2 decades but still nothing. Talent and passion is still there but absolutely no structure or desire by authorities.

Faisalabad hasn't produced talent it used to despite having better facilities because the sport gets no coverage at any level and even schools aren't focusing on hockey as much as they used to.

I forgot Faisalabad (which isn't too far from TTS/Gojra anyhow). They gave us arguably our greatest player ever: Shehbaz Senior. I'm sure there were many others from Faisalabad too, but one I particularly remember is Khalid Bashir, who was a penalty corner specialist before Sohail Abbas emerged on the scene. However, he had a falling out with Shehbaz, was out of the team while in his prime, and last I heard was that he fell upon hard times (not that the good times were anything to write home about, financially speaking) and was running a small shop in Faisalabad. That's another thing that always works against us: the intrigue, the politics, the unwillingness to put anything above personal pride.

 

[msb314]

Not sure how good our team is.

Hope we can go all the way!

 

[PakLFC]

[MENTION=4930]Yossarian[/MENTION]

Hockey not Cricket is Pak's national Sport so should be given priority! Your belief that sports people should be paid poorly because the likes of factory workers are shows how much you know! Yes it is for the government to contribute in building sporting institutions. I guess now you will say having military men in charge of Cricket related affairs is fine as well!!!

I am saying Hockey has the potential to make lots of money if we had a powerful team. I am saying that the collapse of our Hockey is due to it being neglected by various governments over the years. I am saying instead of investing in Hockey your beloved government keeps the money itself. Happy?

People are not watching Hockey at the moment because of our third rate side. In the 70's and 80's when Pak Hockey was incredibly successful it was played in front of sold houses and advertisers were falling over each other to get some action. No one wants to be associated with a dead team like our Pak one at the moment.

No one is saying that Hockey players should not be open to doing other jobs. If you want a thriving Hockey side then it won't happen with our players working full time in banks or insurance companies.

 

[Yossarian]

[MENTION=4930]Yossarian[/MENTION]

Hockey not Cricket is Pak's national Sport so should be given priority! Your belief that sports people should be paid poorly because the likes of factory workers are shows how much you know! Yes it is for the government to contribute in building sporting institutions. I guess now you will say having military men in charge of Cricket related affairs is fine as well!!!

I am saying Hockey has the potential to make lots of money if we had a powerful team. I am saying that the collapse of our Hockey is due to it being neglected by various governments over the years. I am saying instead of investing in Hockey your beloved government keeps the money itself. Happy?

People are not watching Hockey at the moment because of our third rate side. In the 70's and 80's when Pak Hockey was incredibly successful it was played in front of sold houses and advertisers were falling over each other to get some action. No one wants to be associated with a dead team like our Pak one at the moment.

No one is saying that Hockey players should not be open to doing other jobs. If you want a thriving Hockey side then it won't happen with our players working full time in banks or insurance companies.

It's no point arguing with someone who believes that professional sportsmen should be paid by the government (in a 3rd world country where the government doesn't even have enough money to build and run hospitals and schools, resulting in poverty, ill health and lack of schooling for the children of the poor) because the professional sportsmen are 'financially struggling' 'cause they're not making as much money as the country's cricketers,

and shouldn't be forced to work "full time in banks or insurance companies" to supplement their income.

As for your comment about the side being successful in the 70's and 80's, you should go and read my earlier post as to the reasons for the decline. And oh, the players at the time were playing as amateurs and not professionals!

Incidentally, you keep saying "your government". You've said to me "your beloved government" in the post being quoted. What has the UK Government got to do with the state of hockey in Pakistan? Heck, I didn't even vote Tory at the last General Election !!

 

[PakLFC]

It's no point arguing with someone who believes that professional sportsmen should be paid by the government (in a 3rd world country where the government doesn't even have enough money to build and run hospitals and schools, resulting in poverty, ill health and lack of schooling for the children of the poor) because the professional sportsmen are 'financially struggling' 'cause they're not making as much money as the country's cricketers,

and shouldn't be forced to work "full time in banks or insurance companies" to supplement their income.

As for your comment about the side being successful in the 70's and 80's, you should go and read my earlier post as to the reasons for the decline. And oh, the players at the time were playing as amateurs and not professionals!

Incidentally, you keep saying "your government". You've said to me "your beloved government" in the post being quoted. What has the UK Government got to do with the state of hockey in Pakistan? Heck, I didn't even vote Tory at the last General Election !!

Then why are you arguing if there is no point. You obviously have no clue of what you are saying or how great Pak Hockey once was before your lovely politicians spoilt it! I did not say that sportsman should be paid by the government rather the government is responsible for building sporting institutions. They are responsible for the collapse of our Hockey side just like they are for Squash. Third world s that because of corrupt politicians who instead of spending wisely keep the money themselves, there is no shortage of natural wealth or talent in Pakistan.

Yes! They are also responsible for education and health as well! What you are saying is that being a third world country we can't have it all, rubbish! Look at how much money likes of Nawaz and Zardari have amassed abroad that could be invested in Sporting infrastructure, healthcare and edcuation with plenty left over for other things as well.

Priority has to be given to the correct things, I agree. Keeping this in mind healthcare and education would come before Sport. As IK often says it it corruption and nepotism that is killing Pakistani talent more then anything else. It is for a clean government to invest in the correct infrastructure, why cant you understand this simple point??

I say "your government" because you refuse to accept that they are responsible for the collapse of Hockey and Squash in Pakistan.

 

[Yossarian]

Incidentally, you keep saying "your government". You've said to me "your beloved government" in the post being quoted. What has the UK Government got to do with the state of hockey in Pakistan? Heck, I didn't even vote Tory at the last General Election !!

Then why are you arguing if there is no point. You obviously have no clue of what you are saying or how great Pak Hockey once was before your lovely politicians spoilt it!.....

[......]

I say "your government" because you refuse to accept that they are responsible for the collapse of Hockey and Squash in Pakistan.

So now you're of the opinion that the UK government is responsible for the demise of hockey and squash in Pakistan? )

 

[PakLFC]

So now you're of the opinion that the UK government is responsible for the demise of hockey and squash in Pakistan? )

Why would UK government be responsible for the demise of Pak Hockey and Squash? By your government I surely mean the Pak one assuming you are off Pak ethnicity.

 

[Yossarian]

Why would UK government be responsible for the demise of Pak Hockey and Squash? By your government I surely mean the Pak one assuming you are off Pak ethnicity.

"My" government is the government of the country where I live and work, the country I now call my home. As for Pakistani politics or which party happens to be in government there at any given time .......

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAqxWa9Rbe0?autoplay=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[PakLFC]

"My" government is the government of the country where I live and work, the country I now call my home. As for Pakistani politics or which party happens to be in government there at any given time .......

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAqxWa9Rbe0?autoplay=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Then you have no right to make comments if Pakistan means nothing to you.

 

[Yossarian]

Then you have no right to make comments if Pakistan means nothing to you.

Ah, it appears you like to assume a lot. And you know what they say about those that assume too much ......

I said Pakistani politics, and not Pakistan per se. Do try and understand what you're reading and not make your own assumptions.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Actually Pakistan hockey is back on track since Shehbaz senior has taken over as Hockey Federation Secretary in 2015. Give him 12 years with free hand and resources and see the results. This guy is damn good and wants to do good for Pakistan hockey.

 

[PakLFC]

Ah, it appears you like to assume a lot. And you know what they say about those that assume too much ......

I said Pakistani politics, and not Pakistan per se. Do try and understand what you're reading and not make your own assumptions.

Pakistani politics is a part of Pakistan. You are making no sense now after being defeated by me in the real debate. Grow up and stick to the topic. Hockey like most things is a part of Pak politics as well like Cricket is. The two cross each other all the time.

 

[Yossarian]

Pakistani politics is a part of Pakistan. You are making no sense now after being defeated by me in the real debate. Grow up and stick to the topic. Hockey like most things is a part of Pak politics as well like Cricket is. The two cross each other all the time.

And that perfectly sums up why Pakistan's main sports and sports bodies are in such shambles and such a laughing stock, ie mixing politics and sports. No wonder corruption in Pakistani sports is so endemic considering that the sports are run by corrupt politicians of a country where corruption is a way of life - and that's according to the local populace. I think you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[PakLFC]

And that perfectly sums up why Pakistan's main sports and sports bodies are in such shambles and such a laughing stock, ie mixing politics and sports. No wonder corruption in Pakistani sports is so endemic considering that the sports are run by corrupt politicians of a country where corruption is a way of life - and that's according to the local populace. I think you need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Not sure what you are saying here. Firstly you are not interested in politics or something like that but only Pakistan! Back to my original point that the government is responsible for the decline of Pak Hockey with which you disagree with where as now you seem to be agreeing!! Exactly what do I need to "wake up" to when you keep changing you mind?. You have forgotten what we originally disagreed upon it seems. Politics has always been a part of Pak Sport, nothing new about it.

 

[Yossarian]

Not sure what you are saying here. Firstly you are not interested in politics or something like that but only Pakistan! Back to my original point that the government is responsible for the decline of Pak Hockey with which you disagree with where as now you seem to be agreeing!! Exactly what do I need to "wake up" to when you keep changing you mind?. You have forgotten what we originally disagreed upon it seems. Politics has always been a part of Pak Sport, nothing new about it.

Appears as if you're getting yourself in a twist. Basically speaking, you want Pakistani politicians (ie govt.) to get even more involved in the managing and running of sports than they already are. And that includes robbing the poor (of schools, hospitals. decent roads ..) in order to fund professional sportsmen.

 

[PakLFC]

Appears as if you're getting yourself in a twist. Basically speaking, you want Pakistani politicians (ie govt.) to get even more involved in the managing and running of sports than they already are. And that includes robbing the poor (of schools, hospitals. decent roads ..) in order to fund professional sportsmen.

I think you are the confused one who keeps shifting the topic. So now you accept that the government is responsible for improving Pak Hockey? I want Pak politicians who are responsible for messing Hockey to clean it up like they should other institutions. Money for Hockey players will only come when people come to watch a winning side. That in return will only happen if the government supports Hockey and Cinema as well.

 

[Yossarian]

I think you are the confused one who keeps shifting the topic. So now you accept that the government is responsible for improving Pak Hockey? I want Pak politicians who are responsible for messing Hockey to clean it up like they should other institutions. Money for Hockey players will only come when people come to watch a winning side. That in return will only happen if the government supports Hockey and Cinema as well.

So now you want the poor to be deprived of schools, hospitals, decent roads et all, in order to finance movie producers and movie stars in addition to professional sportsmen? It's quite obvious where your priorities lie. Certainly not with the needs of the tens of millions at the bottom rungs of Pakistani society.

 

[PakLFC]

So now you want the poor to be deprived of schools, hospitals, decent roads et all, in order to finance movie producers and movie stars in addition to professional sportsmen? It's quite obvious where your priorities lie. Certainly not with the needs of the tens of millions at the bottom rungs of Pakistani society.

This is where you are wrong again assuming that Sports people should be paid well at the expense of the downtrodden. I have repeatedly told you that a clean and corrupt free government can make everyone happy. Image is important as to is soft power. No government in the past has really supported our entertainment industry which is why so many Pakistanis have become addicted to Bollywood with many of our stars seeking a career in India. In a previous mail I did say that things should be prioritised, you are completely wrong in saying that the government is not responsible for the poor pay Hockey players receive in Pak.