Sohail Abbas has emerged as the star of today's hockey, scoring nine goals in the Olympic Qualifiers, played at Madrid, Spain, from March 3 to 13. Trailing behind Dutch short corner expert Floris-Jan Bovelander, who scored 267 goals, Sohail is arguably the best short corner expert with 234 goals under his belt.
Sohail Abbas became the key figure when Pakistan consolidated their berth for Athens Olympics after beating arch rivals India. Three times Olympic Champion, Pakistan also qualified for Sydney Olympics four years ago when they finished second in Osaka Olympic Qualifier in March 2000. Sohail, scoring 13 goals, was adjudged the leading marksman.
Earlier discarded by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) selector, Sohail ultimately silenced his critics by exhibiting outstanding skills and high-class performance to become backbone of the Pakistan team. Sohail, who plays for the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) in domestic hockey, has already scored over 267 goals in 188, including seven matches of Olympic Qualifiers in Madrid. Before proceeding to Madrid, the last international for Sohail on home soil, played on the poligrass of Karachi's Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) against Malaysia on Dec. 14, 2003 in which he struck twice. Under the Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans, he converted two of the five penalty corners awarded to Pakistan.
It is a pity that Karachi-born Sohail Abbas in the beginning, his talent and abilities were not recognised and taken seriously by those who mattered in Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Despite his impressive performances in the national tournaments, Sohail was not included in Pakistan squad for 1997 Junior World Cup, as team manager Samiullah Khan and coach Ayaz Mahmood were not convinced with his skills and techniques.
UNFORTUNATE: Unfortunately, in 18-year history of Junior World Cup, Pakistan failed to make it to the semis, thus losing the world junior title.
However, he made his international debut during the Seventh Pakistan-India series in 1998, but his role was only to come from the bench for penalty corner drills. Following change in rules after the 1998 World Cup, Sohail was not considered for Commonwealth Games hockey by the then coach Shahnaz Sheikh. He, however, staged a comeback and selected for the Champions Trophy, win a silver. The same year, he was included in Pakistan squad for the Asian Games and bagged a bronze.
Sohail was in terrific form in 1999 when Pakistan won the Azlan Shah Cup for the first time and got silver in Asia Cup. His 60 goals in 1999 shattered the world record of Paul Litjens (58 goals) and national record of Hassan Sardar (50 goals) in one calendar year.
Sohail is also probably the quickest striker to the goal to complete the century of goals when Pakistan thrashed Britain 8-1 in Sydney Olympics on Sept. 18, 2000.
Born at Karachi on June 9, 1977, Sohail is a natural short corner expert with a very strong wrist, a powerful drag flick and a complete disguising body dodge action, proving that he is singular super star of his era.
TOP SCORER: After Hanif Khan, Sohail has score the highest number of 19 goals, is already the holder of three world records in his six-year international career. He is the scorer of highest number of goals (60) in a calendar year as well as the maker of the fastest century and double century of goals in international hockey. He reached double century of goals in the 25th Champions Trophy on Aug. 17, 2003 at Amstelveen, striking twice in the 6-5 thrilling win over Argentina.
It was his fifth Champions Trophy, which provided an opportunity to Sohail to become the leading scorer of Pakistan. He surpassed Hanif Khan's 21-goal record by converting the penalty corner against Argentina in the seventh minute. It was his 22nd goal in the history of Champions Trophy.
Sohail has scored 28 goals in the Champions Trophy and joined the list of top-five scorers of the Champions Trophy.
He is now well poised to at least equal the all-time 32-goal record, set by Australian striker Mark Hager, in the 26th Champions Trophy to be hosted from Dec. 4 to 12 at Lahore.
Sohail, who started the year 2004 in a whirlwind fashion, won the top scorer award in 13th Azlan Shah Cup at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He struck 10 goals which two hat tricks against India and Germany. So far Sohail managed one double hat trick and 18 single hat tricks in the international hockey.
TREMENDOUS SHOW: Despite such a tremendous show, Sohail is yet to win gold in major event. He represented
Pakistan in 2002 Olympics and World Cup 1998 and 2002, but Pakistan failed to win any medal. He was silver medallist in Champions Trophy of 1998 and bronze medallist in the Champions Trophy 2002 and 2003. He also participated in 1999 and 2001 Champions Trophy.
Pakistan, who finished third in the Madrid event, winning a bronze, played seven matches. While they played a drawn match against Malaysia, lost Spain 3-2 in semi-finals.
Interestingly, four years ago Spain hired the assistant of Pakistan's Dutch Oltmans, who helped the Spanish team to make its presence felt in the international hockey.
Before the Athens Olympiad in August, Pakistan team started a training tour of Europe and play a four-nation tournament in Hamburg (Germany) and Test matches against Holland and Germany.
Despite finishing third and beating India twice in the league matches, Pakistan's performance was far from expectations.
TOO MUCH DEPENDANCE: Having said all that, may we suggest to the coach that depending too heavily on one player may prove suicidal for Pakistan in the Olympics where we will be facing no mediocre outfits. The team comprises of 11 players and each one has to perform to reach the top.
Even otherwise it would be naïve to expect 100 percent results from one player, howsoever good he may be. Injuries and health factor should also be kept in mind by the team managers.
Australia, Germany, Holland, Spain and Korea are no mean outfits. Their managers must have watched the performances of individual players in Madrid very closely to hone the talents of their players. They would surely be concentrating full time as to how best opponents' moves and strategies be countered.
Needless to point out the grit and determination displayed by Malaysian goalkeeper in frustrating the penalty push by Sohail Abbas. He made him look a novice in the game.
We must concentrate in training the boys in scoring field goals. The forward line must combine, move in cohesion and produce results. Short passes and quick moves could play the trick.
BLUE AREAS: Vying for the top honours in the Athens Olympics, there are blue areas which need special attention of coach Oltmans.
Keeping in view the presence of Australia, Germany, Holland, Spain and Korea, who will give tough time to Pakistan, our forwards, who at times look exhausted and tired should be agile and penetrating and make early inroads in the deep defence of their opponents and consolidate their position. The defence at times also looks lethargic in checking the onslaught on their goals.
Besides, the coach should concentrate on developing an intelligent half line not only to feed the forwards but also provide support to the deep defence.
However, the next four months will be crucial for the Dutch coach to prepare the team for an aggressive and attacking game in the mega event.
Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans has done a great job in rectifying the flaws in the players, who played much better than in the Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but still he has to go a long way to improve the skills of the players.