Sports
August 28, 2008 10:12 PM
Team disappointed by 10th place finish at Beijing Olympics
Mike Hayakawa
Entering the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Ken Pereira and his Team Canada men’s field hockey club teammates were aiming for a top eight placing in the world rankings.
When the games concluded last week though, Team Canada fell short of their goal, finishing 10th after going 1-3-1 in pool play and then falling 3-0 to Belgium in the ninth place match.
For Pereira, a Unionville resident and one of the veterans on the squad who made his second Olympic appearance, that result did not sit well.
“I was disappointed,” he said. “We struggled in a few of the games where we needed results. There were some good teams here and we needed to perform better.”
Scoring a goal for Canada in their 1-1 tie against Great Britain, Pereira felt the difference came down to skill and depth.
“I think the overall talent of some of the other teams was better,” he said. “But I also feel that other teams had more depth than us. But that’s obvious because of the small numbers that play our sport in Canada.”
In no way was Canada caught off-guard in terms of taking any team lightly, Pereira was quick to add.
“It’s the Olympics, the best athletes in the world are here. We knew exactly what to expect and how tough it would be. Plus there were a few of us who were on the team in the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney and had the experience of playing in these games.”
If Canada hopes to continue to make inroads in the world rankings, Pereira feels it must continue to play matches against the elite in the world, whether it be in friendlies or tournaments.
As well, he feels more players need the exposure of playing in countries where the sport is highly regarded, just to get the experience of knowing what it takes to take their game to the next level.
“A lot of the other countries do that and it seems to help out a lot,” he said of some countries sending their best players to play and train in other places where the field hockey is taken more seriously.
While the 2008 Summer Olympics is now history, Pereira said Team Canada’s season isn’t finished. They will be focusing on the Pan-American Cup in Chile next March.
That, he said, is a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup in India.
In between, he said Team Canada will be involved in some exhibition tours.
Being 35, Pereira acknowledged time is winding down on his field hockey playing days.
But providing he can remain healthy in body and mind, he isn’t calling it quits just yet.
“I would love to do this forever,” he said. “I am having a great time. the 35-year-old body seems to be holding up fine right now.
“But who knows in four years. I will be 39. So for now lets say there is a chance.”