Neglected Grounds: No place for hockey and football enthusiasts

A cricket pitch has been installed on the hockey ground. There is no one to look after the ground

ISLAMABAD:

Grounds in the federal capital are in dire need of maintenance, but the Capital Development Authority (CDA) seems to have side-stepped the issue.

The hockey ground at G-7 Markaz is in a deplorable condition and may deteriorate if CDA does not undertake appropriate measures. “A cricket pitch has been installed on the hockey ground. The goal posts have been rooted out. There is no one to look after the ground,” said a resident, who lives near the ground, while talking APP on Wednesday.

Similarly, a football ground in sector G-7/2 is being used by people for drying clothes rather than playing football. “The ground is being used for all purposes except for playing football,” said another resident of the area. “Football is a popular game among the children of the sector but they cannot play because of the bad condition of the ground,” he said. The residents also pointed that the CDA should depute guards for protection and maintenance of the grounds.

Director Sports and Culture Shamsul Haq said that due to the shortage of staff, the authority was unable to maintain the grounds properly.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2011.