PHF under the cosh as probe committee submits report

Findings lay blame on lack of preparation and facilities prior to the Olympic qualifiers

KARACHI: The probe committee, set up by the Prime Minister to uncover reasons for the poor showing of the national team in the Olympic qualification rounds in Belgium, finally submitted the report to the PM on Thursday after a three-week long process.

Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Secretary Ejaz Chaudary headed the committee and, according to the press release by the IPC ministry, found many flaws in the preparation of the team, including the fitness of players, the federation’s failure to organise training camps and the appropriate selection of players on merit.

“The fitness level of the players and their management during the tournament resulted in the total demoralisation of the team and contributed significantly to the shameful debacle,” read the statement.

The committee also found major issues within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and expressed its concern at the lack of any systematic procedures within the organisation claiming to safeguard the interests of the national sport.

“The management of the PHF will be asked to step down as they have failed to lift hockey in the given time and have not made any serious efforts in the improvement of the national game,” said a member of the probe committee. “Hockey needs personnel that can handle the players as well as gather sponsorships for the betterment of the game.”

The committee also observed that the national sport has been suffering due to a lack of funds and recommended finding suitable sponsors to improve the morale and development of the players and also advised the development of a 10-year action plan to mature the game along modern lines.

Earlier, the committee had suggested to hand over the management of the PHF to one of the departments — PIA, NBP or Wapda — as they had ample experience to look after the demands of Pakistan hockey.

Meanwhile, the committee set up by the PHF to look into the reasons for the debacle, will submit their findings on August 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2015.

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