In the final, they beat the stubborn top local outfit, Axiom-Nokia 2-0, with the help of goals from Waqas and Rana Javed, either side of the lemon break.

There was plenty to offer the hockey fans out here who have seldom got a chance in the past years to see top flight hockey.

This time thanks to Lusitanians HC’s Eusebio Coelho, an event was made possible. The tourney also saw the Mahindra and Mahindra backed Friends United HC, Mumbai take part.

Wapda have four full fledged internationals in their lineup.

Left-in M. Shabbir is an Olympian. Waqas Akbar played in the last Asiad and Rana Asif took part in the last chapter of the SAF Games. Mohammed Mudassir at left-out, is a Pakistan seniors regular.

To back up these skilful players on Friday night, were youngsters who turn out for Pakistan at the junior international level.

In the semifinal, Wapda downed a representative Oman national side 4-0.

Axiom-Nokia is the team to mention here. Playing under 'guest colours' of their sponsors, the team, which played under the Emarat banner a couple of seasons back, played a close-marking game to stun the second seeds Friends United 4-3 in the second semifinal.

In regulation time, the scorebaord read 1-1 and in the penalty strokes, goaltender Tauqueer stopped two vital pushes of the Mumbai team.

Anjum Zia of Axiom-Nokia said, “For part-timers, our entry into the final was something great. It may be a small time event but playing against a side that has been promoted to the senior division in Mumbai is wonderful for our records.”

The Mumbai side, coached by former Indian forward Marcellus Gomes and led by guest player Dhanraj Pillay had a line up of budding players from north east India and Mumbai.

The youngest lad in the side is hardly 14.

“Wapda promotes sports seriously and this benefits the national sides. We have so many disciplines covered for men and women and provide career opportunities as well for the talented ones,” said coach Mirza Waheed.

The chief coach of the side is former Pakistan junior national trainer, Mansour-ul-Haq.

“We have provided the Pakistan national hockey team with so many players and have topped the national scene so many times,” he added.

The Wapda contingent was led by Brig. Najmul Saqar and managed by Saghir Ahmed.

Indian hockey legend Dhanraj, now an Indian Airlines employee in Mumbai, played well within himself and preferred just to do the feeding job upfront.

After their shock defeat he advised his team-mates to “take it easy” and went on to say, “We win some and we lose some. It does not matter. Play a simple straight game especially when keeping goal. Watch the good players, they have the simplest of approaches which allows for little room to make silly mistakes.”

Former India inside forward, ‘Maaqi’ as Marcelles Gomes, is known amongst his friends and the playing fraternity said, “We have been involved with the grooming cum squad formation programme after the last Mahindra team played in the league a few years back. The talent is available which Mumbai and Indian hockey can look forward to.”

Among the members accompanying the side were top Mahindra and Mahindra officials — Hillary Gomes, a former Mumbai and national level player and Neville Dhabhar.