RAWALPINDI - Pakistan hockey team head coach and manager Shahnaz Sheikh has requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also the patron of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to have mercy on hockey players and order Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to immediately start renovation and maintenance work on Naseer Bunda International Hockey Stadium at Pakistan Sports Complex.
Shahnaz expressed these views during an exclusive interview with The Nation on Saturday. He said there was absolutely no comparison when it comes to facilities and other related stuff at PSB but pathetic condition of astroturf of Naseer Bunda Stadium prevented federation from conducting training camp at Islamabad.
“I would also request to Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada to look into this matter of grave importance for the hockey team. We had to participate in the Champions Trophy. We had conducted training camp at National Hockey Stadium Karachi, where astroturf is in excellent shape, but we had faced lot of difficulties when it comes to facilities. We were honoured first by MQM leader Altaf Hussain. He announced Rs 5million for the team, which proved to be the first drop. We are also grateful to Malik Riaz for announcing Rs 5million for federation but we are expecting substantial grant form government. I request PM Nawaz Sharif to spare some time and listen to genuine complains of federation and players. It would go a long way in helping players come out of desperation and perform well for the country. I hope PM would give time very soon.”
Shahnaz said team would depart for India on December 2 through Wagah Border and would play practice match against Argentina on December 3. “We are trying to arrange more practice matches before the Champions Trophy starts on December 6. I am quite hopeful we would get at least two more practice matches before going into mega the event.” Pakistan will play first match against Belgium on 6th, second match against England on 7th and last pool match against mighty Australians on 9th.
“The most interesting thing in the entire event is every team must have to play quarterfinals, it would be a great test of our boy's and we are hoping to at least finish in top 4, if we managed to attain that goal. It would be a great achievement, considering the fact we had not played against any European or top international team for the past one year or so. Playing against Asian teams is a different thing, while facing the heavyweights of international hockey is completely different altogether.”
He said he along with his supporting staff had worked very hard with the players for the last five months and had managed to remove major flaws from the basic techniques of the players, which was quite evident during the Asian Games. “We still believe there is always room for improvement, Boy's had responded beyond my expectations and I hope they would give a real fight to all the opponents in Champions Trophy and would not disappoint me and masses. I request people to keep on supporting and praying for the green shirts. The time is not far when we would regain lost glory days, but for that we need unconditional support both from government and private sector as without funds we can't even think about training.” Shahnaz concluded.