KARACHI, Aug 19: Pakistan Steel-Atif Hockey Academy launches its ambitious programme in the first week of October, inducting a clutch of 28 teenagers to be groomed for the future needs.

The basic idea behind the project is to nurture and polish the raw material into national players by initiating four-year training programmes at the academy which will be affiliated as a club with District Hockey Association.

According to the plans, the academy, to be run by Pakistan Steel and former hockey stalwarts here at Steel Town, the first batch of Under-14 trainees will pass out in 2006.

The academy recruits will be available for 2009 Junior World Cup selection and new talent will be hunted in 2006, 2010, and 2014, to produce youngsters for the 2013, 2017, and 2021 Junior World Cups.

The trials to select the first group of players will be held from Sept 8 to 10 in Lahore, and from Sept 15 to 17 in Karachi.

The programme will be funded by Pakistan Steel and the trainees will have free boarding, lodging, education, besides hockey training by a panel of stars of yesteryear who will be available on honorary basis.

Former secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Olympian Brig Manzoor Hussain Atif (retd) will be convener of the panel.

A maximum of 16 youths for a single course from friendly Asian countries will have opportunity to receive training at the academy.

A Board of Governors headed by chairman of Pakistan Steel will supervise the project which may be expanded to one academy in each province.

The Board of Governors, panel of coaches, and selection committee are to be announced later.