Pakistan's Hajra Khan lambastes organisers for mismanagement in National Games

Footballer criticises revision of timings, quality of food provided to players

KARACHI: Pakistan football team captain Hajra Khan took to Twitter to voice her displeasure over mismanagement in the 2019 National Games.

Veteran footballer, with three Guinness World Records to her name, criticised organisers for unprofessional behaviour and inadequate facilities provided to athletes.

In a Twitter post, she said revision of timings was not being communicated to players directly after a match was rescheduled.

Woke up prepared for an 11am game. Got to the field at 9.30am only to find out the match had been rescheduled to 2pm.
PFF conveyed this revision to the officials yesterday over WhatsApp which was not directly passed on to the teams or players.#nationalgames2019 pic.twitter.com/0GJia3Zhgp

— Hajra Khan (@hajrakn) November 13, 2019

Further, she expressed her disappointment in the kind of food being served to athletes, which she deemed unfit.

Field size - (50x90)
Last min match duration change - from 45 minutes to 35 minutes.
Food served not fit for athletes' consumption.
This is 'Pakistan Olympics'
This is #NationalGames2019
This is professionalism.
This is a country whose head of state has been a sportsman.

— Hajra Khan (@hajrakn) November 13, 2019

Footballer said that she feels embarrassed by the facilities provided to athletes in the country. However, she believes if only Pakistan starts looking after it's athletes there will be a dramatic improvement in the plight of sports in the country.

I have never felt as disrespected for serving this country as I have in the last couple of days.
I have always said this and I'll say it again, the day this country starts giving back to its athletes - it'll be a whole new ball game.#nationalgames2019

— Hajra Khan (@hajrakn) November 13, 2019