RAWALPINDI - Pakistan hockey team’s former head coach and manager Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh said Pakistan Hockey League is a step in the right direction and foreign players’ participation would open floodgates of international hockey revival in Pakistan.

Talking to The Nation Shahnaz said the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) would have had to take some highly difficult decisions to make the idea a success as same old people would try to create unwanted and uncalled for hurdles and would try to sabotage all the good work done by PHF President Brig (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Olympian Shahbaz Senior.

When asked about the fact that those same old people are once again occupying key slots and whether the new PHF regime would really be able to guide Pakistan hockey in the right direction in this scenario, Shahnaz replied: “Off course, same old used bullets normally do get chance to occupy high-profile posts. Opportunists in the past too come and go but it doesn’t matters. The thing that matters most is the leadership, who is sitting at the helm of affairs and making all the shots.”

He said to achieve same old glory days success, the PHF must has to introduce both short term and long term policies for senior team to provide them exposure as it is highly important to keep on getting favourable results at the top level. “Otherwise players would get frustrated and could further hamper Pakistan hockey hopes of climbing back to the top. There is hardly any money on offer for the hockey players and officials and why should youth start hockey as career? The players need proper back up, jobs and central contracts. I know Brig Khalid is a well-connected persons and he is trying his level best to ensure jobs for players and he is in close negotiations with different departments in this regard.”

He said his services are always available for the national team and federation like he had always preferred national interests over personal ones. “Hockey is my life, I had given everything to hockey and this is just because of hockey that today I enjoy so much respect wherever I travel whether home or abroad. I am quite hopeful, the federation would succeed in enhancing junior pool of players and expand them and take that number to respectability, which would indeed help Pakistan hockey a great deal in the years to come.”

He said it does not mater if results do not come according to wishes and plans in the initial time period but if the things go in right direction and the genuine players are provided with free and fair selection, there is a little doubt about Pakistan teams’ future.

“I can see and feel hockey future of Pakistan is highly bright.”

He rubbishes claims made by some quarters that hockey talent is vanishing in the country and youth doesn’t anymore want to play hockey. “It is childish thinking of some ill-minded elements. The way youth was keenly involved in the recently concluded National U-18 Hockey Championship was clear evidence, that Pakistani youth still takes a lot of interest in hockey. I was present at the venue. The way the Naseer Bunda Stadium was packed with spectators, Olympians, hockey lovers and families was highly heartening. I want to congratulate the PHF, Col (R) Ahmed Nawaz Malik tournament director and his entire team for putting up such great show. Frankly speaking, I had never witnessed such a wonderful and highly organised crowd during a junior hockey event.”

He said he had noticed quite few brilliant youngsters and if they are given training and proper guidance they would very soon represent country.

“I had noticed amazing talent, which just need to be polished and results would be more than desired ones. I feel Brig Khokhar is taking practical steps to take Pakistan hockey back to same old glory days and he needs all out backing from former players, media and all stake holders. I believe he must be given proper time to implement his plans.

I am quite optimistic he and his team would deliver goods for the country and hockey, “Shahnaz concluded.