Shahbaz Urges To Establish Hockey Academies, Training Centres

Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Shahbaz Ahmad Senior Tuesday underlined the need to establish hockey academies and training centres to bring back erstwhile glory of the national game.

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Oct, 2018 ) :Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Shahbaz Ahmad Senior Tuesday underlined the need to establish hockey academies and training centres to bring back erstwhile glory of the national game.

"We'll have to invest for setting up academies and training centres to train our youngsters and produce high quality players," Shahbaz told APP.

He said establishment of world-class hockey academies was necessary to nurture budding players. He said that keeping in view the current state of hockey in the country it was necessary to develop sustained passion for hockey by introducing the game at the gross-roots level.

To a question regarding Indian hockey team's continued dominance over Pakistan team in the international events, he said that Pakistan had not been featuring in international events like the traditional rivals hence they (Pakistan team) lacked exposure and succumb to pressure.

About some media reports regarding appointment of former Olympian Tauqeer Dar's appointment as national hockey team's head coach, he confirmed that the team manager Hasan Sardarhad asked the federation to appoint Dar as the coach.

"However, the final decision about that will be taken when Hassan Sardar reaches home after the conclusion of the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Muscat," he added.