PHF officials openly criticize federal government on the delaying tactics

Lahore: For the first time PHF officials openly criticized on the delaying tactics of federal government in the releasing of funds which is causing hampering the preparation and training process of national hockey team and other hockey engagements, while addressing the cash and gold medal awards distribution ceremony among Two Silver medals winning hockey team on Sunday, night at a local hotel, organized by Omar Associates.

The CEO of Omar Associates, Nadeem Omar has given the reception in the honor of national hockey team and its officials on the winning of back to back two Silver medals in Asian Games and  Champions Trophy last year, and awarded them cash prizes and gold medals. It is the first time that national hockey team’s jubilation observed in splendid manner, for which Green Shirts came into the city for only one day leaving their national training camp in Islamabad.

PHF President Akhtar Rasool, addressing the ceremony, said that when he elected in the PHF, as president ,  first step was taken to formed the unity among the hockey stalwarts and he himself contacted to the former greats like Islahuddin and Shahnaz Sheikh, to set aside all differences among the hockey community and work together for the betterment of national hockey.

He said people saw that the result of unity among hockey community brought laurels just in few months hard work and Pakistan won two silver medals in big events.

PHF, President said that he wanted to inform the federal government that PHF is in the hands of professionals and we wanted to win all the grand slams of hockey world and for this purpose PM of the country Nawaz Sharif, who is also the patron in chief of the PHF, would have to play its due role.

He said that he had invited all big wigs of private sector including the bankers, business community   heads and executives of several other big institutions including Mian Mansha of MCB, to include them PHF Executive board and play their role in the promotion of national game but unfortunately no one came to help us. He said that once again he invited the heads of banks and other multinational companies to help the national hockey.

He saluted Director of Omar Associates, Nadeem Omar, who was the first man come to rescue the national game of the country and help Green shirts.

Akhtar Rasool, demanded the federal government to nominated Nadeem Omar, for presidential award for his great services for the promotion of sports.

He added that any one awarded him (Nadeem Omar) or not PHF has given him award to its deep heart. National hockey would always be thankful to him.

PHF Secretary, Rana Mujahid, said that we have decided that we would not cover any thing whatever the truth would be brought in the knowledge of nation. PHF Received Rs 3.2 million annual grant to the federal government which is not enough to run a training camp of national hockey team, one can imagine how can PHF run the program of national hockey across the country. Sponsorship is not available due to absence of international hockey matches in the country due to law and order situation as no foreign hockey team interested to come here, he said.

We demanded  Rs 500 million (Rs 50 caror) grant for PHF, which is not a big amount for national game of hockey, he said.

Rana Mujahid said that COAS, Rraheel Sharif, assured PHF, that Pakistan Army would help national game as they organized a big hockey tournament and core commander Karachi, would resolve the issue of lease of Hockey Club of Pakistan, (HCP).

He assured the members of national hockey team that their financial issues would be resolved soon. He vowed that preparation national team for qualifying rounds of Rio Olympics 2016, would not be affected, and national hockey team would play number of international matches before appearing in the qualifying rounds of Olympics in June held in Belgium.

Chairman selection committee of PHF, Islahuddin said all quarters of national hockey are looking towards PM Nawaz Sharif, who is also patron in chief of the PHF, that when he will resolve the financial issues of national hockey, so that Green Shirts go into the Olympics without any hindrance and pressure.

He expressed surprised on the number of times postponement of the meeting of national hockey team members and PHF officials with PM, of the country, said that if players tried to meet the PM of foreign  country, they have successful to meet him.

Chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh said it seems that promotion of sports is not priority of federal government due to which financial situation of the PHF and national hockey team is not better.

He reminded that Pakistan hockey team has won 52 medals in its sports history and out of them 25 medals are gold medals all winning in big and recognized international hockey events. But our players are deprived of their salaries and contacts so far, he added.

He vowed that players would eat grass and fight for the national hockey team in the coming big events. He informed the audience that Quaid e Azam had declared hockey as national game.

Nadeem Omar, on the occasion announced to form Omar Associates own domestic hockey team as he did in cricket. He recalled that hockey has given us recognition all over the world and it is the time that affluent segment of society come forward and help national game which has so much potential as they demonstrated in the Champions trophy in India last year.

Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui, assured the gathering that no one should demoralize and dejected government always work for the promotion of sports and wanted to encourage sportsmen.

It is the responsibility of the nation and governments to serve and support the sports and sportsmen.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should be done by country’s institution, he added.

He applauded the role of Nadeem Omar in the promotion of sports in the country. And his services for the national hockey team would proved a mile stone.

Former great cricketers Mushtaq Muhammad, Salhuddin, captain of national hockey team Muhammad Imran, and others also addressed.

It is interesting to note that World cup hero wicket keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed, who arrived in the city on same night also participated in the ceremony and expressed his wishes for the national hockey team and thanked nation who supported and backed him on his performance in the World cup matches.

Later, cash awards and gold medals were distributed among the members of national hockey team by Nadeem Omar and others.