February 03, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 14, 1428

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LAHORE, Feb 2: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has decided against hiring a foreign coach, saying new team management would be announced next week.

The new team manager and coach would be appointed till Beijing 2008 Olympics. The first assignment of the new management will be Azlan Shah Cup in May in Malaysia.PHF secretary Akhtarul Islam said PHF Congress meeting would be held to get approval of the nomination of the secretary. He said the Congress would elect new office-bearers for the next term of four years.

He said after resolving the ongoing rift between president Punjab Hockey Association, Imran Masood and secretary Naveed Alam, the Congress would elect the new office-bearers of the PHF.

The PHA president has suspended Naveed for six months alleging he had misused his powers.

"I hope matter will be resolved within 10 days and then PHF will hold Congress meeting," said Akhtar.

Surprisingly, PHF secretary is working without being elected by the Congress. The previous president Tariq Kirmani nominated Akhtar as secretary replacing Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan last year. Later Kirmani quit only to be replaced by Jamali.

A group of Pakistani officials, including Akhtar, recently went Malaysia for Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) elections but none of them succeeded. Lt-Col Mudassar Asghar, a former PHF secretary, also contested for the office of AHF secretary but failed.

"The PHF could not do proper home work before fielding candidates for the different posts of the AHF," he admitted.

The PHF secretary said he wanted to hold Super Hockey League in Lahore this year, but had been waiting for the installation of the floodlights at the National Hockey Stadium. He said the Punjab government had given the approval for the floodlights.