Pro-hockey-league: PHF hopes to hold inaugural event in November

Both local and foreign players will be eligible to participate

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is all set to launch Pakistan’s inaugural Pro Hockey League in November featuring both local and foreign players.

According to PHF secretary Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, who is part of the new management aiming to revive the national game, youngsters need professional hockey in their own country to enhance their skills and attract others to follow in their footsteps.

“We have been working on this since the start of the year and will be giving a brief plan by mid-March,” Shahbaz told The Express Tribune. “The response during the national championship was better than last year and it shows that players have already begun to come back to the game.”



The secretary further said that sponsors were attracted to the national event as they saw their money used efficiently. “We are already in talks with sponsors and hopefully we’ll be able to attract plenty in order to carry out our plans for the league.”

He added that since Pakistan has not been performing well in the international arena, the league would be a means to increase their confidence by playing with foreigners while helping the country regain its lost glory.



Shahbaz said that the league would be open for foreign players including those from India but believes that some European players will not be willing to participate.

“In the inaugural edition of the league, players mainly from Asian hockey-playing nations will participate as the ones from Europe will be hesitant due to safety concerns,” he said while adding that after a hopefully successful launch of the Pakistan Pro Hockey League, others would be more willing to visit.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th,  2016.

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