Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary general Shahbaz Ahmed Senior has said that the national hockey team will require “at least a few more years to regain their winning form.” Talking to media on Monday, the former Olympian said it was unfortunate that the players were not able to take part in some international events due to the unavailability of funds. The statement comes days after Pakistan finished last in a four-nation hockey tournament held in Melbourne. The PHF secretary admitted that the federation did not have money to bear the expenses of a foreign coach, but went on to say: “Even a foreign coach cannot put the hockey team on the right track.”

He said that the level of fitness and skills of the national players was quite low as compared to the players of other international teams. He lamented that the players preferred to play in international leagues instead of focusing on the domestic hockey setup. “I am making efforts to promote and build the domestic hockey infrastructure so that the player quality improves at the grassroots level,” he added.

Shahbaz, however, hoped for better results in Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia next year. Responding to allegations against him and other PHF officials, the former Olympian said he had seen the world during his hockey career and had no desire to go on foreign tours on federation’s expenses. “I went to New Zealand for a pro-hockey league meeting at the behest of the hockey federation,” he clarified.

Published in Daily Times, November 21^st 2017.