Another hockey stalwart has left this world. Jahangir Butt, a member of Pakistan`s grand slam winning team: 1968 Olympics, 1971 World Cup & 1970 Asian Games, breathed his last in Karachi last Tuesday at the age of 78.Jahangir Butt was born in Gujranwala. He was quite young when the family moved to Sheikhupura. The town has always been a fertile hockey nursery. Incidentally, another hockey star from this town, World Cup winner 1994 Naveed Alam, passed away a few weeks back.

Jahangir Butt showed great promise right from the early days. The left-winger was picked up by Navy, a formidable team on the domestic circuit in those days.

He had just turned 22 when first selected for the national team for the tour of East Africa in 1965. He never missed the selection till his last international outing in 1972. Soon, he joined Pakistan Customs, one of the two strongest teams in the country along with PIA. The 1966 Asian Games was his first mega title event. Pakistan, the defending champions, went down 0-1 to India in the final. Pakistan had also lost in the 1964 Olympics final to India.

Now, the 1968 Olympics was the target. That brilliant hockey brain M H Atif was appointed the manager of the team nine months before the Olympics. Atif was able to build a strong combination. Pakistan regained the Olympic gold in 1968 and Jahangir Butt was a proud member of the team. The left-winger, apart from going forward, helped the defence as instructed by falling back whenever needed.

Sheikhupura distinguished itself in a big way. The other two players from the city, right half Saeed Anwar and left-in Asad Malik were named in the World XI announced after the Olympics.

In 1969, a mega international tournament was held in Lahore in which almost all the top ranking hockey nations competed. The teams included hosts Pakistan`s two sides. The senior team comprised players from the Olympic gold medal-winning side. Such was the depth of talent those days that the final was played between the two Pakistani sides with seniors winning with the barest of margins. The youngster who impressed the most was left winger Shahnaz Sheikh who was later to become one of the greatest forwards in the history of the game.

The emergence of the brilliant Shahnaz meant Jahangir Butt was no longer the first choice at the left out position. Interestingly, this ushered the second phase of Jahangir Butt`s international career which earned him a unique place in the annals of Pakistan hockey`s history. He had already exhibited an astonishing ability to play at almost every position in the outfield. Onwards, he was mostly not a first-choice player for the starting XI but was called into the ground whenever the need arose. The squad for the big tourneys consisted of 18 or 16 players including two goalkeepers.

Hence, for the 10 outfield positions, six or four reserves were available. Those were the days of specialised positions where players generally could play well at one position only. Therefore, the reserves couldn`t cover all the positions if required. This made Jahangir Butt, because of his versatility, a very vital member of the team - a man for all seasons.

Pakistan also regained the Asian Games gold medal in 1970, beating India 1-0 in the final. That year, Jahangir Butt was conferred with the prestigious Tamgha-i-Imtiaz by the Pakistan government.

In 1971, the inaugural World Cup was staged in Spain. Here, Jahangir Butt`s versatility as the utility player made an awesome contribution to the team`s success. Legendary right half Saeed Anwar got unfit before the World Cup. His replacement Arshad Chaudhry disappointed in the opening match. Jahangir Butt was called to play as the right half in the second match, and he fitted well. Full back Akhtarul Islam was debarred for two matches for committing a serious foul in the penultimate pool match. Young Munawwaruz Zaman replaced Akhtarul Islam. In the semi-final against India, with the score at 1-1, right full-back Tanvir Dar dislocated his knee. With no full-back available, Jahangir Butt was switched to the right full-back, and here too he did the needful. Pakistan overcame India 2-1 and went on to defeat Spain in the final. By winning the World Cup, the Olympic and Asian Games Champions completed the grand slam.

Jahangir Butt was a member of the 1972 Olympics Pakistan team which had his city stable-mates, Asad Malik and Saeed Anwar, as the captain and vice-captain respectively. Pakistan, the defending champions, lost to hosts West Germany in the final. Dissatisfied with the umpiring, Pakistani players misbehaved at the medal ceremony. The entire team was banned for life. Later, the ban was reduced to little more than a year. It turned out to be the last international outing for most of the senior players including Jahangir Butt. He continued playing for customs in the domestic competitions for a few years.

From 1978-2008, Jahangir Butt was appointed coach/manager of Pakistan`s national and junior teams several times. The first big assignment was the inaugural junior World Cup in 1979. His 1968 Olympics captain Dr Tariq Aziz was the manager. The duo guided the team to victory, the only time Pakistan won the Junior World Cup.

His stints with the national team included the 1981 & 1982 editions of the Champions Trophy. As a coach, a title tournament victory came his way at the 1985 Asia Cup. The same year, with Tariq Aziz again as the manager, he was coach of the Pakistan team at the 3rd Junior World Cup. Pakistan stood third.

From 1948-1985, Pakistan had an enviable record: never finished outside the top four at the Olympics or the World Cup. When the two-time defending champions came 11th at the 1986 World Cup, it was considered no less than a national disaster. Most of the 1986 World Cup players were discarded and the PHF emphasised the youth for the revival.

Jahangir Butt was recalled as the coach. He and manager Sami Khan remained in charge of the junior squad from 1987-89. The team that ultimately finished third at the fourth Junior World Cup (1989) is considered Pakistan’s finest ever junior squad. From 1986-89 it played 49 matches against various junior as well as senior national sides: won 45, drew two, and lost just one match (semi-final of the 1989 Junior World Cup). The teams they defeated included senior squads of nations as strong as Holland and England.

Several members of that junior squad later made a massive contribution to Pakistan hockey`s last medal successes at the global stage: 1990 World Cup (silver), 1992 Olympics (bronze), and 1994 World Cup (gold).

Seven years later, Jahangir Butt was coaching the national team. Again, there was a crisis. Pakistan, the reigning World Champions, were considered among the favourites for the 1996 Olympics gold. But during the camp before the Atlanta Olympics, a players` revolt disrupted the preparation and Pakistan finished 6th (worst position in Olympics till then). The next assignment was the 1996 Champions Trophy in Chennai, India. Again Tariq Aziz/Jahangir Butt duo was brought in as manager and coach. Many seniors were not considered and no less than six players debuted. Pakistan surprised everyone by finishing second. The duo continued with the national squad till the 1997 Champions Trophy.

A decade later, in 2007, he was made the manager cum chief coach of Pakistan juniors. He had three assignments culminating with the Junior Asia Cup 2008 where Pakistan were third, thus qualifying for the Junior World Cup. The 2008 Hamburg Masters as the national team`s manager marked the end of Jehangir Butt`s coaching/managerial role.

This scribe contacted Jahangir Butt`s teammates for their memories. They all talked about his gentle nature. He was “polite to a fault”, never spoke ill of anyone or indulged in any controversy. He was a “great team man, ready to accept any role” at any time.

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