Daily Times

A lacklustre performance by the Pakistan hockey team in the recent mega event owes much to the lack of resources. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Ireland, the team was beaten 2-1 by France ending their World Hockey League campaign at eighth position. It is a big blow to the Pakistan side that it has failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics for the first time since 1948. It is shameful that Pakistan, which is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Cup winner in the sport, failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time. Pakistan hockey has been in crisis for the last three decades. Once a powerhouse in world hockey, Pakistan also failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2014 for the first time in the history of the event.

Apathy from the government has played havoc with the national game that has reached the verge of extinction. All stakeholders including the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), government’s sports bodies, Olympic associations and the players are equally responsible for the downfall of hockey. The prime minister has satisfied himself by showing concern over Pakistan’s defeat and forming a committee to probe the causes of the national side’s poor show. The government needs to understand that in the present circumstances, such failure was inevitable. The players cannot be wholly blamed for this debacle, given that there were not enough funds available to even pay their allowances, hotel accommodation and fare. They need nutrition, training and enough funds for sustenance. The national game is facing utter neglect while the players are being deprived of all incentives intermittently. The government has not been providing funds to the PHF to arrange the players’ proper training under expert foreign coaches and their participation in international tournaments that is crucial to face world class opponents.
There are certain measures that can be taken to revive the game in the country. The government needs to allocate enough funds so that Pakistan could regain its lost pride. There is a need to promote the game at the domestic level so that talented players could be found at the grassroots level. In this regard, the game can be promoted at educational institutions. An end to nepotism and plundering of resources by incompetent officials can bring a lot of difference to the game. It is time for the PHF to work on modern lines. The government needs to extend all out support to the PHF in establishing modern hockey grounds and arranging training facilities for the players. The hockey team and PHF need to be reorganised and restructured by inducting new talent and strict administrators respectively with ample resources at their disposal. *