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All 21 players of Pakistan junior hockey team get contracts in Australia

By Syed Intikhab Ali
May 07, 2017

Sources in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) told ‘The News’ on Saturday that various hockey clubs from the states of New South Wales, Western Australia and Tasmania contacted the players to represent them in the league.

The green-shirts performed brilliantly in the Australian National Junior Hockey Championship, held recently, where they won the title. Their performances attracted many Australian clubs, who showed interest in hiring the players.

The PHF President Brig (retd.) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar termed the development as a good omen for the future of Pakistan hockey.

“The performances of our junior team in Australia have boosted our pride and the contracts offered to them are a proof that revival of Pakistan hockey is on the right track,” said Khokhar.

“The PHF has given them permission to participate in the competitive Australian league hockey as it will polish them and help them remain fit,” he added.

Meanwhile, the junior hockey team chief coach Kamran Ashraf said that performance of the team proves that the PHF is doing its best to revive the national game in the country.

“There is no other example of an entire team getting the contract to play in the Australian league. It is a great achievement,” he said.

Kamran added that the players will return home in September before going to Malaysia to participate in the Sultan of Johar Baro Junior Hockey Tournament in October.