PHF plans for a professional hockey league to hunt talent : Kh Junaid

Lahore: Pakistan hockey team’s head coach Khawaja Junaid faced a barrage of questions from the media in a press conference at the National Hockey Stadium, mostly related to the national team’s performance at the recent Hockey World League semi final round in London which also served as the qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup.

‘Qualification for the World Cup was the target assigned to me  by the federation. This has been achieved as Pakistan has virtually qualified.’

Talking about Pakistan’s heavy defeats in quite a few games, “I agree that it was very disappointing. . At the same time, it must be remembered that around nine players were playing in an international tournament for the first time. We all know that Pakistan had failed to qualify for the last World Cup (2014) as well as the Olympics (2016) so it is a comeback. Pakistan are now back in the mainstream of world hockey.”

When mentioned that some  former stalwarts are demanding his resignation, Junaid replied, “It is up to the PHF. If they don’t want my services anymore, I will step down.”

About the coming assignments of the national team, he cited the Asia Cup in October as the most important, ” For the proper preparation, the camp should be called soon and a tour to European countries should also be arranged. Now, that we have qualified for the World Cup, the major hockey nations would be more interested in hosting Pakistan.”

Regarding  some senior players  such as Rizwan Sr, Rashid, Fareed, among others, not considered for the HWL semi final, “All will  be called in the camp. If they show form and fitness then they will definitely be in the run for the selection.”

On the subject of  the deteriorating domestic standard of the game, the World Cup winner (1994) suggested a professional league, “Look, the PSL has done wonders for the Pakistan cricket within two seasons. Players who emerged from the PSL made an immense contribution to Pakistan winning the recent Champions Trophy.

PHF has the plans for a professional hockey league on the same lines but is waiting for the government’s green signal. The standards would improve and the  players will get good money. “