Hockey novices

At the recent under-21 European B hockey championship in Padua where, incidentally, Ireland won the gold medals, a coaching course was conducted by Ulsterman Ronnie Smith and Dublin's John Findlater. A number of coaches from countries around Europe attended, including Vassilos Karatanos from Greece.

The curiosity here was that Greece did not have a hockey team in existence. But as Athens are hosts to the Olympic Games in 2004, Greece automatically qualify for the competition along with the 11 best teams in the world.

Karatanas reckoned that he had around 100 players and three pitches to work with. He was hoping to build a team of players ranging in age from 20 to 24 and was therefore looking at 16-year-olds whom he hoped would blossom in six years time.

It will certainly be a project worth monitoring over the next six years. How a country can build a national team from scratch to Olympic standard with no tradition, know-how or even adequately qualified coaches. A Mount Everest if ever there was one. But just wait and see what serious money can do here.