LAHORE - The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has warned that if the government doesn’t sanction required funds, the national game will meet its ultimate end and the hockey stars will be forced to abode the footpaths.
Briefing media here at the National Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday, after the PHF congress meeting, PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said that the federation felt a general wave of discontent amongst the boys who brought laurels for the country in last three months.
“Due to shortage of funds, PHF and the players’ families have been facing financial difficulties, despite achieving two silver medals in two back-to-back international events. These are great feats 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. “The PHF congress passed a unanimous resolution urging upon Prime Minister Mian M Nawaz Sharif for approving a summary of Rs 500 million, prepared by the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) ministry, for the implementation of the PHF action plan to uplift the standard of hockey in the country.”
To a question, Rana 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 PHF president Qasim Zia, who is an elected member of the FIH Executive Board, will question the behavior of the 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 badly who was mentally involved in preparing and discussing the match strategy with the players,” Rana remarked.
Disclosing the key decision taken during the 51st congress meeting, Rana said certain amendments had been approved in the PHF constitution as directed by the FIH. “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.”
The secretary added that the PHF women wing had been abolished as directed by the FIH. “A general manager (women) will be appointed to look after the women hockey throughout the country. But women will be given 20 per cent representation in the congress and the executive board,” Rana said and added the congress unanimously approved the amendments. “The congress has also approved the annual calendar and the estimated budget of the PHF 2015-16.”
The PHF congress has unanimously appealed to Mian Nawaz Sharif, who is PHF patron-in-chief, to approve the summary, moved by the IPC ministry for the allocation of Rs 500 million to the hockey federation.
At the end of the meeting, Balochistan Hockey Association (BHA) president Nawab Lashkari Raisani presented the resolution which was unanimously approved by the house. In his resolution, 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.