The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has invited the Malaysian Hockey Team to visit Pakistan in February this year to play hockey series, while the PHF will not only talk with the Asian but also invite the European hockey teams to play a bilateral hockey series in coming year.
PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa told reporters, here on Wednesday that all the hockey-playing nations are busy during November and December in their domestic leagues and when we see their domestic season is over, we would hold talks with them for home and away series.
He said the PHF has formally sent the invitation to Malaysia for playing a series of three matches, which would be played at Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad. If Malaysia agrees, the fourth match would be played at Sialkot. There is another proposal we have put before the Malaysians that we want them to play a tri-series involving the Pakistan senior and junior teams and hopefully we would receive their response in a weeks time, he added.
He said the Executive Board of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which met here at the National Hockey Stadium has given its stamp of approval to all the decisions taken by its president and secretary after the first meeting of the officials. The Board has assured Qasim Zia and Secretary Asif Bajwa of their full backing for the uplift of sports in the country. Besides, giving approval to the decisions of the PHF officials, the board also went through the minutes of the previous meeting and discussed steps the PHF plans to take for the development of the hockey, he added.
Asif Bajwa said that the PHF will provide 10,000 hockey sticks and balls to all the schools they deem necessary. He said that the PHF meeting with the Sports Ministry would be held on Thursday instead of Friday to decide the fate of the Pakistan teams visit to India to play in the two four-nation tournaments.
He further said that those PIA coaches who had not participated in the coaching course would not be given salaries for the entire 10 days of the course. He said that the PHF was paying the coaches attending the course and if they would have to attend the course taking leave from their department they should have done so but now they will not be given any money for not attending the course.
To a question, he said that trials to select players for academies at Balochistan have been postponed till March. Under the present chilly and snowing weather in that province, the trials are not possible and it would now be held in March, he added.
He further said that the Dutch consultant is expected during the week to launch the first phase of training youngsters. The first thing he would do is to formulate a system under his software and then move ahead for training the young players, he added.
When asked about Coach Ayaz Mahmood, he said he would soon be joining the national team. Moreover, FIH/PHF High level Coaching Course concluded here at National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday.
As many as 39 participants took part in the course. Chairman FIH Coaching Group Tayyab Ikram was the course conductor and delivered lectures about latest hockey. President PHF Qasim Zia and Secretary Asif Bajwa distributed the certificates to participants at closing ceremony, while Qasim Zia presented a souvenir to Tayyab Ikram.
Qasim Zia said on the occasion that PHF and FIH are in contract for organising coaching courses in Pakistan, and PHF will continue their efforts to arrange these types of courses in future. The PHF is trying to create a structure to promote hockey in Pakistan and officials of federation need support in this regard, he added.
Chairman FIH Coaching Group Tayyab Ikram said that FIH will continue their support towards PHF in future. Pakistan has very much potential in hockey and the decision of setting up of hockey academies is the wise decision on the part of PHF.
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