Mission ‘hockey bachao’ set to surface again

Former greats to finalise anti-PHF campaign after Eid.


Our Correspondent August 17, 2012

KARACHI: Former hockey greats who are unhappy with Pakistan’s performance in London are gearing up to launch a campaign against the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) set-up... again.

The Olympians, including Samiullah, Shahnaz Sheikh, Qamar Zia, Qamar Ibrahim and Salim Sherwani besides others, are on board to start campaign to remove the PHF officials after Pakistan finished seventh in the Olympics, a campaign that also included a 7-0 drubbing against Australia.

Pakistan, during the current PHF set-up headed by Qasim Zia having Asif Bajwa as secretary, finished eighth in Beijing Olympics 2008 besides a bottom-place finish in the World Cup that prompted former players to call for Bajwa’s removal from the post. While poor results at the Commonwealth Games and the last Azlan Shah Cup are among the other failures of the team during the period, the 2010 Asian Games gold medal was the only respite for the hockey team.

“We failed where it mattered,” Samiullah told The Express Tribune. “This PHF has failed to bring any improvement in over four years and now these officials must quit themselves. We can’t see any future planning by the PHF. This federation has even failed to form a proper back-up of youngsters.”

Samiullah said various Olympians have decided to launch a campaign to remove this set.

“We will be on a rescue hockey mission after Eid. As a first step, we will sit and prepare the campaign’s strategy that may include meeting dignitaries, including the prime minister, to plead our case. We may even launch a protest in order to save our national sport.”

Samiullah, however said the campaign which is aimed to save the national game from complete destruction will be run in a civilised manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2012.

COMMENTS (5)

syed | 11 years ago | Reply

This administration should/might be changed but not because where we finished in Olympics and the world cup. That should not be the only yard stick to measure administration job, one good day could have easily put pakistan on top four or even medal podium. The root of the problem is lack of infrastructure and popularity of the sport in the country. PHF job should be to organize and promote sport at the grass root level, and play a leader's role in bringing together all concerned parties (local organization, sports industry and sponsors), so that more and more people can participate and enjoy. At highest level we should have a proper profeessonal league (even at modest level). Once we do these things we are sure to find world class talent in abundance. Just trying to get medals at the international events out of thin air is not a good and sustainable objective I am afraid, we will have more failures in it then success.

Junaid Zafar | 11 years ago | Reply

We are with you, Asif Bajwa is a corrupt man ruling Pakistan hockey for like last 10 year, hockey is our national game and there is lot of talent and surely we can do lot better than what we did in Olympics and world cup. Management should be changed and our Olympic hero's should work in PHF to improve it.

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