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For hockey’s revival: New PHF to strengthen academies run by Olympians

Body’s president Khokhar also keen to become self-reliant and generate funds

Nabil Tahir September 13, 2015

According to Khokhar, the need of the hour is to hold inter-school and inter-college events on the AstroTurf at different academies. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Aiming to fortify the domestic hockey structure, Pakistan Hockey Federation’s new chief Brigadier (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar has decided to strengthen the various academies run by the Olympians across Pakistan.

The new management is also focused on improving the standard of the junior circuit.

“Unfortunately, hockey has been eliminated from the grassroots level in our country,” Khokhar told The Express Tribune. “Apart from a few places, you won’t see any youngsters playing hockey in the grounds, parks or streets like they used to do in the past.”

The PHF president said they would visit the cities where the academies are running. “We will talk to the academies’ owners about taking steps for the betterment of the national game,” he said.

Khokhar added that the need of the hour is to hold inter-school and inter-college events on the AstroTurf at the academies to gain back the interest of the young players. “We will have to make hockey attractive to as many educational institutions as possible,” he said.

Expanding on the plans to be discussed with the Olympians and organisers, he said, “We have to divide provinces into regions, which will be more manageable.”

The official further said that places like Gojra, which have produced many Olympians and star players, lack the basic facilities required by a hockey player. “The current lot of players in Gojra are not being educated and groomed for modern hockey.”

According to Khokhar, another reason behind hockey’s decline in Pakistan is that the PHF is almost always looking towards the government for financial support. “This is what we need to change,” he insisted. “We will become self-reliant and generate funds not only for the federation, but for the players too. Forming a marketing team is on the cards, which will turn hockey in Pakistan into a saleable product.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2015.

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