PHF to unveil future plans soon

KARACHI: PHF’s new bosses have a number of big plans and they will make them public when they are finalised, said a source in the federation.
The new PHF chiefs have not interacted with the media so far in the way they should have “but this did not mean that PHF is not doing anything”, said the source.
It has been proposed to make domestic hockey colourful and attract public to the domestic hockey events by holding events at night under floodlights and introduce five-a-side and nine-a-side national-level tournaments. The step would strengthen the senior and junior outfits as players would become used to play fast hockey at the grassroots level, said sources.
PHF is planning to have the country’s players sign contracts with professional clubs in Germany, Holland, England, Malaysia, Hong Kong and several other European countries, so that the players might have financial security.
This would be done in a way as to avoid a clash of the professional hockey leagues with events in Pakistan, the sources said. Besides, the PHF is planning to hold a professional league in the country.
The PHF is hopeful that secretary Shahbaz Ahmed, a renowned forward of his time, will use his contacts in major hockey-playing nations. The PHF is working on a schedule of domestic hockey which may allow players to play abroad without missing events in the country.
The federation is also planning revival of school hockey in order to develop the game at the grassroots level.
A source said that PHF was not solely relying on the government funding to promote the national game. It is desperately seeking a highly-qualified consultant who could bring sponsorship.
The source in the federation further said that PHF would utilise the services of former Olympians and international players and those organising and coaching at the grassroots level.
The domestic hockey events would be taken to small cities where astro turfs have been laid such as Larkana, Shaikhupura and Sukkur.
Sources in the opposition camp said that the performance of the junior team in the Asia Cup 2015 would prove the abilities of PHF’s current management.
So far the PHF management has focused on the junior hockey team so that it may qualify for the Junior World Cup 2016. Pakistan may secure a berth in the World Cup through the Asia Cup in Malaysia next month.