Hockey league fails to draw the crowd

The opening day of Junior Super Hockey League witnesses empty stands as national sport projects bleak future.

LAHORE: The opening day of the 2nd PHF Junior Super Hockey League (SHL) at the world’s biggest hockey stadium witnessed empty stands as Pakistan’s national sport projects a bleak future.

Rows of empty seats were visible as every single stand was full of security officials instead of spectators. The opening matches on the first day of the league failed to attract more than a few dozen spectators to the 70,000-capacity National Stadium despite free tickets on offer. The event holds significant value as all the matches are being telecast live while carrying a Rs2-million prize money.

However, despite a poor turnout and low interest, the Pakistan Hockey Federation  remains hopeful that hockey can regain its lost glory soon.

“You can not regain the sport’s lost glory in one go but I can assure you that the federation is delivering 100 per cent of its plans and Pakistan hockey is flourishing on grass-root levels on a daily basis,” said the PHF General-Secretary Asif Bajwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2010.