The government should help before hockey stars abode the footpaths: PHF

Lahore: Pakistan Hockey Federation has warned that if the federal government does not sanction required funds the national game will meet its ultimate end and the hockey stars would be forced to abode the footpaths.

Briefing media at the National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday, after the PHF Congress meeting, Secretary General Rana Mujahid informed that the Federation felt a general wave of discontent amongst the boys who brought laurels for the country in last three months. “In the back drop of paucity of funds PHF and mounting financial difficulties faced by the families of the players, achieving two silver medals in two back to back international events is a great feat for which the boys must be encouraged and patronized”, Rana urged. He recalled that how it was painful and shameful for the Federation to arrange funds for the national hockey team to ensure its participation in the Champions Trophy.

Rana said that the PHF Congress passed a unanimous resolution urging upon the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for approving a summary of Rs. 500 million, prepared by the Inter Provincial Coordination Ministry, for the implementation of the PHF Action Plan to uplift the standard of hockey in Pakistan.

To a question, Rana Mujahid said the PHF would raise the controversy generated amid change of mind of the Tournament Director of the Champions Trophy at the forthcoming FIH Executive Board meeting. “Former president of the PHF Qasim Zia who is an elected member of the FIH Executive Board will question the behavior of Tournament Director in the meeting:, he said. After pressure from Hockey India the FIH Tournament Director had reversed his earlier decision in which he was satisfied with the explanation given by Pakistan team chief coach.

Later he imposed one match ban on two Pakistani players and issued warning to one player. Rana added how painful for the Chief Coach Shahnaz Sheikh to be summoned by the FIH official thrice just hours before the start of the final against Germany in the Champions Trophy. “It disturbed Shahnaz’s badly who was mentally involved in preparing and discussing the match strategy with the players”, Rana remarked.

Informing key decision taken during the 51^st Congress meeting, the PHF secretary general said certain amendments have been approved in the PHF Constitution as directed by the FIH. Rana said the FIH is concerned with the boiling menace of corruption and doping in world sports and it has taken a preemptive step to eliminate it before it targets hockey.

Therefore, the PHF have decided to maintain a Zero Tolerance Policy towards corruption and doping and incorporated it in the preamble of its Constitution. He added that the PHF Women Wing has been abolished as directed by the FIH. “A general manager (Women) will be appointed to look after the women hockey throughout Pakistan. But women will be given 20% representation in the Congress and the Executive Board”, Rana said and added that the Congress unanimously approved the amendments. The secretary general also informed media that the Congress has also approved the Annual Calendar and the estimated budget of the PHF 2015-16.

Meanwhile, PHF Congress has unanimously appealed to the Patron-in-Chief of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to approve the summary, moved by the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry for the allocation of Rs. 500 million to Pakistan Hockey Federation.

At the end of the meeting Nawab Lashkari Raisani, President Balochistan Hockey Association, presented the resolution which was unanimously approved by the House.

In his resolution, Nawab Raisani also urged upon the prime minister to fix a time to meet the PHF officials and the players of the national team who won silver medals in the Asian Games and the Champions Trophy.