PHF chief deplores corporate sector’s apathy

KARACHI: PHF officials openly criticised the federal government on Sunday evening for its delaying tactics in releasing funds which is hampering the preparation of national hockey team for Olympic qualifiers.
Speaking at a ceremony organised by Omar Associates in honour of the team that won silver medals at Asian Games and Champions Trophy, PHF president Akhtar Rasool said that when he was elected, the first step he took was to bring unity of the hockey stalwarts. He said he himself contacted former greats like Islahuddin and Shahnaz Sheikh, set aside all differences and worked together for the betterment of national hockey.
He said people saw that the unity among hockey community brought laurels in a few months and Pakistan won two silver medals at big events.
PHF president said that he wanted to inform the federal government that PHF was in the hands of professionals who wanted to win all major hockey events in the world. For this purpose, PM Nawaz Sharif, who is the patron in chief of the PHF, would have to play his due role, he said.
He said that he had invited all bigwigs of private sector, including bankers, prominent businessmen such as Mian Mansha to include them in PHF Executive Board. “But unfortunately no one came to help us,” he said dejectedly.
He said that he was once again inviting heads of multi-national companies to help the national game.
He thanked CEO Omar Associates Nadeem Omar for coming forward to rescue the national game.
Akhtar demanded that the federal government nominate Nadeem Omar for presidential award for his great services for the promotion of sports.
PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said PHF had received Rs3.2 million in annual grant from the federal government which was not enough to run a training camp of national hockey team. “You can imagine how PHF runs the programmes of hockey across the country. Sponsorship is not available due to absence of international hockey matches in the country due to law and order situation as no foreign hockey team is interested in coming here,” he said.
“We demanded Rs500 million grant for PHF which is not a big amount for the national game,” he said.
Rana said that COAS Raheel Sharif had assured PHF that Pakistan Army would help the national game as they organised a big hockey tournament. Corps commander Karachi would resolve the issue of lease of Hockey Club of Pakistan, (HCP), he said.
He assured the members of national hockey team that their financial issues would be resolved soon.
He vowed that preparation for qualifying rounds of Rio Olympics would not be affected, and the team would play a number of international matches before the qualifying rounds in Belgium.
Chairman selection committee Islahuddin said people were looking towards PM Nawaz Sharif for resolving the financial issues of national hockey, so that Green-shirts could enter the Olympics with full preparation.
He expressed surprise on the number of postponements of the meeting of the team members and officials with the PM.
Chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh said it seemed promotion of sports was not a priority of the government. He reminded the authorities that Pakistan hockey team had won 52 medals and out of them 25 were gold. “But our players are deprived of their salaries and other benefits,” he added.
On the occasion, Nadeem announced forming Omar Associates’ hockey team.
He said hockey had given the country recognition all over the world, so the affluent people should help this game.
Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui said no one should be demoralised and that the government always worked for the promotion of sports.
Former cricketers Mushtaq Muhammad and Salahuddin, and captain of national hockey team Muhammad Imran also addressed.
Wicketkeeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed who had arrived from Australia earlier in the day also participated in the ceremony and expressed his wishes for the hockey team and thanked the nation for supporting him.
Later, cash awards and gold medals were distributed among the members of the national hockey team by Nadeem Omar and others.