Karachi to be hub of hockey: Shahbaz

KARACHI: PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed has said that Karachi would be the hub of hockey in the country in the near future as PHF has planned a number of events in the city, including national hockey championship and training camps of national senior and junior teams.
Talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday, the hero of 1994 World Cup said that the role of the city in the development of the national game was vital as it was considered one of the biggest nurseries of hockey in the region.
He said that in the coming days he would visit Karachi to review the arrangements for the national championship and formally announce its details in the second week of December.
Shahbaz, who took the position of secretary at a time when the country is out of major competitions, said that if steps were taken in the right direction and in time, with clear intentions, Pakistan hockey would rise very soon.
“Despite thousands of difficulties one thing is clear: there is talent and potential in the players who have survived in hardest way of life. The qualification for Junior World Cup is the proof that the Green-shirts could achieve a lot within a short span of time if they are given all facilities,” he said.
He said the junior had qualified for the major event with just one and a half months’ training and after playing only five international matches and two practice matches before the Asia Cup.
Shahbaz, who was appointed PHF secretary a couple of months ago, said Karachi was very important for the promotion and development of hockey.
He said the project of blue turf at HCP was going to be completed within time and the next national championship would be held here from December 25 to January 6.
The championship would be organised in a befitting manner and lucrative prizes would be awarded to the winners, runners up and to individual performers.
“PHF wants Karachi, which produced great players like Islahuddin, Hanif Khan, Munawar uz Zaman and Hasan Sardar, to once again produce talented players. That’s why PHF is organising a number of events here,” he said.
He said that around seven astro turfs had been laid in Sindh, including two blue. We will utilise this infrastructure and organise hockey events with the help of local associations and local governments. Karachi will be the hub in this respect,” he said.
He said that after the national championship, Chief of the Naval Staff Hockey Championship would also be held in Karachi at HCP. Its dates would be announced during his Karachi visit, he said.
Shahbaz said that training camps of national senior and junior teams would also be held at HCP according to the requirements of the teams.
He said that PHF had achieved a turnaround. “We failed to qualify for the big events, including the World Cup and Olympics, and were not able to participate in several other important events due to lack of resources,” he said.
“First, we got funds and then invited FIH and AHF top officials to Pakistan and convinced them to help Pakistan in these circumstances. They have assured us that due to the important role of Pakistan in the world of hockey they would provide all possible support to us to revive the game in the country,” Shahbaz said.
The PHF secretary said that FIH had planned several steps for revival of international hockey in the country. “We won’t do anything in haste. We are gradually resolving the issues. PHF first focused on qualifying for the Junior World Cup. Now we are focusing on holding regular activities in domestic circuit,” he added.
He said that PHF was seeking help from the FIH and AHF to arrange international matches for Pakistan senior and junior teams in and outside the country.