July 11, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

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LAHORE, July 10: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is negotiating with three foreign coaches and hopes are high to achieve the services of one suitable professional well ahead of 2004 Athens Olympics.

“ Discussions are underway with coaches from Australia, Holland and South Korea but we are still in the process of negotiations”, said Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan, secretary, PHF on Thursday.

Musarrat said it was a difficult task to hire a foreign coach as most of the experienced professionals are currently busy with their assignments but PHF was in touch with some coaches who have given positive reply.

He said it is still premature to say when exactly the PHF was going to hire the services of a coach.

“ It can take a month or several months but we are hopeful to achieve this objective to prepare our side for Athens Olympic under the supervision of a foreign coach”, said the PHF secretary.

Unpredictable performances and failure of home former olympians attached with the team in the past three years are the key factors which forced the national federation to think on lines to hire a foreign coach.

“ That thought (hiring of a foreign coach) was in our mind from the day first when we took over three years ago but a number of factors restricted us from implementing it”, he said.

When pressed to reveal those factors, Musarrat said, paucity of funds, non availability of the wanted foreign coaches and idea to test home coaches with the team were the biggest hurdles.

“ Hiring a foreign coach is not a easy venture, it needs adequate funds and availability of a particular coach known to perform his job with perfection, unfortunately hockey is not a real professional sport and PHF has limited resources of fund generation through sponsorships”, he said.

To a question, he said, now the financial condition of the PHF is sound and it can afford hiring a foreign coach with the help of some sponsors.

PHF official said gone are days when hockey was not a scientific sport and todays modern hockey totally depends on high profile coaches groomed under the development plan of International Hockey Federation.

“ We are up to the task to hire a coach and will reveal the details as soon as we finalise our discussions. We hope that after accomplishing this target the performance of the team will definitely improve.”

Meanwhile, the inquiry committee of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) set up to look into matter of Sohail Abbas and Muhammad Wasim’s absence and the verbal permission granted to them by Manager Shahnaz Sheikh to join professional league, could not start its proceedings here on Monday as the absent players are still abroad.

“Sohail and Wasim are still abroad and the committee will meet on July 14”, said Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan, Secretary, PHF.

Sohail and Wasim’s commitments with the professional hockey ended on July 5 and the players’ casual approach is quite disturbing the PHF which has started the preparations of the team for the Champions Trophy due in Holland next month.

President, PHF, General Muhammad Aziz Khan, constituted a high-powered committee to probe the entire matter and to give its recommendations. The former Pakistan Hockey Manager was accused by Wapda, the employers of both the players (Sohail and Wasim) for giving them verbal permission ahead of the a training camp to prepare for the tour of Australia in May-June to feature in two international tournaments.

Shahnaz denied all such allegations and resigned from the job citing personal and family commitments.

“The committee will record the statements of the players and manager to judge the genuineness of claim made by Wapda and to take disciplinary action against the players regarding their absence”, he said

PHF official said it is likely that the players will return home on July 12 and upon their return the committee will take up the matter.

“It is unfortunate that the players are still there and it is also surprising that they have not yet returned as the league needed a few days ago”, he said.

Musarrat said Wapda must take this issue seriously and it was their moral obligation to influence their players for early return as done by National Bank of Pakistan which in the case Nadeem ND who returned home on the day of trials, leaving the league assignment midway.—APP