Hockey: PHF to avoid media ‘distraction’

Timings limited for coverage of camp for Azlan Shah Cup.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has restricted media presence at the camp for the Azlan Shah Cup to ensure uninterrupted proceedings during training sessions, underway at the National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. 

The PHF took the decision after a request from the team management, which was unhappy and felt the random timings of the media for coverage was hurting preparations for the forthcoming tournament.

According to the federation’s press release, the media will be allowed to witness the proceedings for half an hour between 3pm to 3:30pm.

“We want players to concentrate on training,” Pakistan coach Hanif Khan told The Express Tribune. “The media’s presence in random timings was distracting players as well as the coaches. We want to concentrate on our training sessions and that was the only reason behind our request.”

The tournament will be played in Ipoh, Malaysia from March 9-17 and will be the first international assignment for the greenshirts this year. The event also includes defending champions New Zealand, Australia, India, South Korea and hosts Malaysia.

PHF mulls replacement for goal-keepers coach 

Meanwhile, the PHF was mulling over replacement for goal-keeping coach Ahmed Alam who resigned from the post, citing family commitments.

According to a PHF official, the federation was yet to decide on a replacement.

“We are considering options,” said the official. “We cannot say for sure whether we will be able to get a new coach for the Azlan Shah Cup or not.”

Alam joined the senior team after the London Olympics and was a part of the team that won bronze medal in the Champions Trophy last December before claiming the gold medal in the Asian Champions Trophy.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2013.