Bajwa urges senior hockey players to prefer country

ISLAMABAD - Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation Asif Bajwa has urged the national players to prefer to national interest instead of going after foreign clubs. He was talking to reporters here at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Tuesday where the national junior team is training. He further said that Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and Rehan Butt were good players and were free to decide their future. "Owe would follow the same line of deal adopted by the previous PHF management with Sohail and Waseem," he maintained. Bajwa said that the fitness of the player would be the basic criteria for the selection and federation would not compromise on it. "The merit will not be neglected in the selection of junior and senior teams for the any type of competition," he said. Bajwa announced that the 2010 Asian Games were the target of the PHF, however, they would bring administrative changes in the management after the Asia Cup. He further said that they were focusing on the Junior World Cup Hockey Tournament scheduled to be held in Singapore and Malaysia from June 7 to 21 this year 2009. "Pakistan will have to meet Argentine, Russia, Belgium and Egypt in their pool matches. Our boys have abilities to bring good results. We will also schedule a three-match series with Egypt in Europe before the world cup, "he said. Responding a questing, he said that despite of limited recourses, federation would try its best to give a central contract to the top players. "We have no source. However, we can generate the money if the hockey stadium will be handed over to the PHF," he suggested. The Secretary PHF also requested to Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani, who is also patron-in-chief of the PHF, to help him in getting the charge of all the hockey stadiums. "The hockey arenas can be permanent source of income for the federation and they can be spent for the promotion of game," he observed. He also visited the training camp along with the members of the selection committee Rana Mujahid and Khalid Bashir. He remained there and observed the junior boys in the training camp.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt