'Make a lasting impression'

Shahbuddin Chaklader, the captain of the Bangladesh hockey team in the 1985 Asia Cup, yesterday urged the current team to have no fear when they take on two-time champions Pakistan on the opening day of the Hero Asia Cup on October 11.

The veteran hockey player urged the team to make the first impression a lasting one so that spectators come to watch them in droves, like they did 32 years ago when Bangladesh had hosted the second edition of Asia's apex hockey tournament.

“I believe the Pakistan match will be our biggest test. Take the match very seriously and make a lasting impression,” Chaklader told the members of the current team during a programme titled 'Hockey Stars of 1985 & 2017', organised by the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) at the Bangladesh Olympic Association auditorium.

The lively programme, attended by veteran hockey players and organisers, felicitated the members of both the 1985 team as well as the one that will be embarking on 10th edition of the event, to be held at the renovated Maulana Bhasani Stadium from October 11 to 22.

Apart from Chaklader, the other members of that team present at the programme were: Khaza Daniel, Jamil Parvez Lulu, Kamrul Islam Kismat, Alamgir Chunnu, Osman Gani and Abdullah Piru while veteran players such as Pratap Shankar Hazra, Abdus Sadque, Ehtesham Sultan and veteran organiser Shamsul Bari were also present.

Abdus Sadeque, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) who held the same position 32 years ago, said that the current crop should do well for the fact that they get a lot of facilities which were not available back in the day.

“I wouldn't say we had the best team back then, but the team played their best hockey because they had team-spirit. I believe the current players are lucky that they get so much training facilities and play abroad. So I hope the team will do well and create the same kind of buzz that the 1985 event had created,” the legendary player opined.

Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, the captain of the current side and arguably the best player to come out in the last two decades, said that hockey runs in the life-blood of the players and hence they always try to do their best.

“I have grown up playing hockey and watching hockey. We play with dedication and love for the game. If we go out there without the belief of winning, then there is no point of all these training. So I urge my fellow teammates to make a mark so that someone will felicitate us 32 years from now,” Jimmy said.