Daily Times

KARACHI: In an attempt to find and nourish new talent for hockey in the country, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has taken former captain and Olympian Samiullah Khan onboard for a talent hunt programme. “The Pakistan Hockey Federation has appointed Pakistan’s former captain legendary Samiullah Khan, popularly known as the flying horse, the chairman of the PHF talent hunt programme,” a PHF spokesman said Tuesday. The spokesman said that Samiullah was the best choice to lead the programme as he had the eye to spot hockey talent.

“Samiullah himself has said the PHF should start talent hunt at the grass roots level, so the PHF president has taken a note from his advice,” he said. The spokesman said that Samiullah had been authorised to constitute the formal committee and formally launch the talent hunt programme. “It will be on the discretion of Samiullah,” the PHF said when asked about the other members of talent hunt committee. “We would look for players at Under-15 and Under-16 level from inter-school competition to create a pool of players who can serve the country in future,” he added. To a query, he confirmed that the PHF had received positive feedback for the proposed hockey league in the country. “We are working on it, including the event management and players’ availability, and will soon announce a full programme on it,” he said. Shahbaz also disclosed that the PHF was aiming to earn at least Rs250 million from the proposed hockey league.

Published in Daily Times, August 9^th 2017.