Hockey WC winning hero Mansoor remembered

ISLAMABAD: History will remember Mansoor Ahmad as one of greatest sportsmen of modern day hockey. No other green badge holder of modern era has contributed so much to Pakistan hockey successes as had Mansoor.

The country owes the last two major international victories entirely to the goalkeeper, who was solid under the bar and possibly the fittest of all others played during his hey days.

This correspondent is a witness to all his major achievements for Pakistan especially in mid nineties and was one of the few journalists who travelled with the team to Sydney (Australia) in 1994 to cover the World Cup Hockey played at the Olympic Stadium adjacent to Paramata Road. Mansoor’s uncanny ability to guard the goal turned out to be the winning recipe for Pakistan ultimately. It is no exaggeration to admit that had it not been to Mansoor, possibly winning the last two majors would have been only a dream. His under the bar prowess first earned Pakistan a place in the 1994 World Cup final at the expense of Germany and later the title beating Holland in final. Both semis and final Pakistan won on penalty shootouts courtesy to solo effort of his.

When all eyes on 25 thousand capacity Stadium were focused on Mansoor, he lived up to his status as world’s best goalkeeper by blocking Delmee’s powerful push on his right to see the crowd erupt with joy. Even though there was no dearth of Pakistan origin spectators in crowd, the Australian present at the Ground were also supporting greenshirts. Such turned out to be the trauma for Delmee that he was helped by his colleagues to get back to normal from terrible shock of missing the all important push. Six months prior to the World Cup, Mansoor was again in the limelight when earned Pakistan their first major title after 1984 Los Angeles title. Again he came to rescue first for a place in the final and then earning the Champions Trophy title in Lahore.

If any sports journalists had a close association with the deceased, this correspondent proudly can say that he was the one with whom he shared all those agonies of life, which turned the fittest of player into a vulnerable one.

The first shock he received after turning into all time mega hero was the one when players headed by Shahbaz Ahmad Senior staged a revolt against his captaincy as the team was about to leave for 1996 Atlanta Olympics. This correspondent who travelled with the team to USA is privy to the fact that Shahbaz refused to play under Mansoor’s captaincy and was initially not part of the teamthat left for Atlanta to compete in the event. Though Shahbaz later joined the team his refusal to play under him came as the biggest shock to a player like Mansoor who always stood up for him by earning him (Shahbaz) and the team two back to back titles through his sole efforts.

Then came the most critical phase of his life when he called it a day from international hockey and started concentrating on his employment with Pakistan Customs. He was promoted to a position of Superintendent in Customs and was appointed incharge of a warehouse in Karachi. Since he spent all his life serving Pakistan hockey, Mansoor possibly was too naive for Customs job. Those who knew the tricks and trades of minting money from these positions threw Mansoor in total dilemma. Over 1200 kg of silver went missing from the warehouse. Mansoor was blamed for negligence-though time and again he clarified his position but to no avail. Criminal case was registered against him and later he was arrested and sentenced. For over 12 years he fought his case and was finally acquitted from all charges. By that time his family life and credentials as honest citizen was tarnished to a level of no return. His divorce turned out to be a telling blow to him. He never recovered from repeated shocks as his health started turning from bad to worse. He was treated for heart attack where stints were required to bring him to normal.

Surprisingly during all these years starting from early 2000, no Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official came forward to his help. Even the likes of Gen (red) Aziz who took over as the president PHF did not try to extend any helping hand to the hero who was in dire need of support and backing. Majority of hockey officials and former players took him as a culprit and never tried to listen his side of story seriously considering his exceptional services for the game.

Since he was a true athlete, he always seemed ready to get involved in toughest of physical challenges sometimes at the expense of his health. Even the PHF officials didn’t realize that his health needs static responsibilities rather than active one. Sometimes he got the job goalkeeping coach, others he was seen coaching junior strings. The fact of matter was after heart surgery it was the selection job that was best suited to him. We often weep over spilt milk but never tried to nip the evil in the bud.

Same happened with Mansoor. Now those who were in a position to help him out, mourn his death hardly admitting that their little bit of support at that time could have saved the legend from deep agony.

Mansoor’s services indeed were second to none but those who had power and could have saved his precious life never came to his help and rescue even when he needed that desperately.