As many as 13 teams appeared in the recently-concluded National Hockey Championships (departmental round) at Lahore’s National Hockey Stadium. As was expected, PIA and National Bank played the final and the former completed a hat-trick of national titles.

The other two semi-finalists, Sui Southern Gas Company and WAPDA, with a number of internationals, were also favourites to reach that phase. Does it indicate that new talent is not coming up? Those who watched all the 13 teams in action won’t agree. Every side had some exciting players. In fact, the semi-final line-up would have been different had luck favoured Army. In their eight-team super league match against WAPDA, Army were 2-0 ahead with just one quarter to go.

WAPDA pulled one back but were still trailing when the last minute started. Army were denied a memorable victory when WAPDA, the most experienced side in the competition, equalised with seconds left on the clock. In a true soldierly manner, they came out of the big disappointment. The very next day, the last day of the super league, Army faced SNGPL. They had a tough task in hand; had to win by a margin of six goals. But they didn’t have the fate in their hands.

WAPDA had to lose to SSGC. Only then could Army qualify for the last four. They took up the challenge with courage. Army attacked from the word go. Goals came their way and the target was achieved in a dramatic manner. They won the match 7-1 with the last goal coming in the final minute.

With bated breath, the Army squad watched the last match of the super league, between WAPDA and SSGC. However, the seasoned WAPDA managed to squeeze a draw.

Apart from Pakistan’s former captain M Imran and current national star M Rizwan Sr, Army had no international.

Another side distinguishing itself was Police, who had won the nationals thrice. Due to the non-recruitment of sports-persons in recent times, the Police team this time was only a shadow of the past outfits. Most of the players were contracted solely for these nationals. Hence, its progress to the Super League was praiseworthy.

Quite a few other teams had some players roped in solely for these nationals. This doesn’t augur well for Pakistan hockey because the ‘job incentive’ used to be a major attraction for youngsters to take up hockey.

It was heartening to see Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited raising a hockey team.  They didn’t do badly in their maiden appearance in the nationals; they made it to the Super League.

The lesser teams had their moments against fancied opponents and there were very few one sided contests.

Talent was wide spread -- every side had players full of promise. One lad who really shone was Police forward Mohammad Sharjeel. He achieved three hat-tricks in the tourney. He was declared ‘Best Emerging Player’. The youngster is yet to figure in the national senior or any age group team.

The national championships’ round for the regional teams will be held later. This time instead of provincial sides, divisional sides from all over Pakistan will participate.

Each regional team will be allowed a maximum of three departmental players. Hopefully, a lot of talent will be showcased.

This leads to the mother of all the questions: why is Pakistan team not doing well on the international circuit?

The head coach of Pakistan’s junior side, the former national captain Tahir Zaman, says: "Our national teams’ poor performances are not due to the dearth of talent. It is a reflection of the unsatisfactory domestic circuit. Right from the early days, the boys are brought up on playing systems which bear little relevance to modern hockey.

When they play for Pakistan, it becomes difficult for them to adapt to the requirements of international hockey. We, the national teams’ coaches, try to mould them in accordance with present day hockey. But even after playing at the international circuit for some time they don’t show consistency. The game plan is not followed throughout; old habits die hard."

In the light of all this, the importance of a modern uniform syllabus at all the levels can’t be over-emphasised.

Germany is the most decorated team in modern times, having won four Olympics and six Junior World Cup titles.

"In Germany, we follow the same system from the grassroots to the club level up to the national teams. That has worked for us for long," says Valentin Altenburg, coach of Germany’s current junior team.

It’s time Pakistan picked a style and built a system accordingly. For this, a programme to develop coaches must be started, with a uniform syllabus and regular clinics by renowned foreign and Pakistani coaches. Then the PHF can start with up and coming national coaches, who will later spread the knowledge to coaches working at the grassroots level.

We don’t have to look far. Our neighbours’ revival presents a good model. India have risen to number six in the FIH rankings. Only a month back, they surprised everyone by lifting the Junior World Cup; they had finished 10th in the previous edition.

A big reason for India’s rise is the resurgence of Punjab. The state provided 10 players to the Junior World Cup-winning team, specifically from the Surjit Academy in Jalandhar. "The seeds of this revival were sown 10 years ago, when the talent-scouting process and training system saw a complete overhaul," says Sukhvir Grewal, director training, Punjab Institute of Sports.

"In the last 10 years, the pool of players increased from 2000 to 5000; which has resulted in the number of players in the elite academies rising from 120 to 400," he adds.

"All these years, we have had regular clinics, mainly about the basics, for coaches. Surjit Academy also has had a physical trainer for over six years."

The modern scientific approach coupled with the natural artistic skills of the oriental players enabled Punjab youngsters to contribute to India’s greatest hockey glory in years.