April 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1428

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KARACHI, April 16: While Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has set a new trend by hiring paid team officials, it apparently has not done much to improve their efficiency which was evident from the fact that coach Manzoorul Hassan was absent from the national training camp on Monday for next month’s Azlan Shah Cup.

The former Pakistan full-back, who has been hired as coach along with manager-chief coach Islahuddin Siddiqui until 2008 Beijing Olympics, was found missing at the evening session and the probables had to train under Islah and assistant coach Abdur Rauf at Hockey Club of Pakistan.

“Manzoor was very much here during training. He is just here somewhere. He might be in his room in the stadium,” came the absurd reply from Islah when asked about the whereabouts of the coach.

However, when this reporter tried to approach Manzoor for an interview, his room at the stadium was found locked.

While Islah, who is also the camp commandant, was adamant that Manzoor was present at the stadium, sources confirmed that Manzoor had left Karachi for Rawalpindi because of unknown reasons and might return on Tuesday which will be a rest day at the training camp.

More interestingly, even the PHF secretary Khalid Mahmood was not aware of Manzoor’s absence from the camp.

“The coaches are at the training camp. You are based in Karachi you should know better about them and the camp,” said Khalid from Lahore.

The former mercurial forward was, however, taken aback when told Manzoor was absent from the camp in the evening but didn’t consider it a serious matter.

“It is certainly not a concentration camp. It is a national hockey training camp,” Khalid reacted but was rendered speechless when asked should the team officials, especially camp commandant, be aware that coach has left the camp.

“Let me check this out first, I will let you know about this one tomorrow,” said the secretary who has been elected on April 2.

There are reports that Manzoor has been lobbying to have former Pakistan captain Mohammad Usman as assistant coach but since Rauf has already been appointed and Islah may not have favoured the proposal, sources believe Manzoor’s absence could be connected to this issue. There was, however, no official word from the PHF.

Interestingly, Gojra-based Usman has been in the port city for the last few days.

Islah says all the appointments for the team management have been made after his consultation. PHF chief Zafarullah Jamali has made it clear that team coaches would be appointed according to Islah’s wish.

“Manzoor and Rauf’s appointments have been made according to my wish. The present set up of Manzoor and Rauf will continue. There will be no changes as both have been named team officials after my consent,” says Islah.