Technical Officials Refresher Course concludes at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium

Lahore: Three-day Technical Officials Refresher Course, under the auspicious of Pakistan Hockey Federation, concluded at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium. The purpose of the Course was to groom officials and field jury through giving them awareness regarding latest rules in international hockey to supervise a match.

In his opening address, Tournament Director of the ongoing National Hockey Championship former Olympian Qamar Ibrahim informed the participants that the PHF started this Course to enhance the capabilities of its technical officials by imparting awareness of rules in modern hockey. He said that after the Course all the participants would go through a Written Test which would help the PHF to categorize them in various Grades. “The PHF is doing all this not only to enhance the capability of its technical officials but also to eliminate favouritism in their appointment to supervise various national tournaments”, he asserted.

FIH certified umpire Haider Rasool gave lecture to the participants on the topic of Relationship between Field Umpires and Technical Officials sitting on Field Jury. He urged upon them to shed their ego and affiliation during the course of a match and give their verdict on pure merit.

On the last day Chief Coach of Pakistan Junior team Olympian Tahir Zaman joined in a general discussion on the topic of Relationship between Bench Officials and Field Jury. Participants, divided into six groups, were given different topics to discuss. It was followed by a questions/answers session.

Forty-three technical officials, including five women, from affiliated departments of the PHF and district hockey associations participated in the Course. In all seven sessions were held. In one session the officials were taught placement of players, goalkeeper and tournament officials, including umpires, during the penalty shoots out session.

Assistant Tournament Director of the ongoing National Hockey Championship Ch. Ansar Mehmood conducted the Course in smooth way. Tournament Officer Mohammed Shafiq Bhatti assisted him.

Meanwhile; Brig. (R) Muhammad Khalid S. Khokhar, President PHF, Olympian Shahbaz Ahmad Senior, Secretary General PHF on their personal behalf and on behalf of PHF have offered heart-felt condolences on the sad demise of mother of Chaudhary Muhammad Ilyas Gujjar & Capt (Retd) Chaudhary Fayyaz Arshad Gujjar who expired on 3^rd January 2016.

They prayed that Allah Almighty may rest the departed soul in His Infinite Mercy. They also pray fortitude for the members of the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. Aameen.