July 04, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1429

KARACHI, July 3: Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) newly-appointed secretary Asif Bajwa on Thursday said he was not willing to make any compromises on the status of the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) and the federation will do everything in its power to keep it intact.

Speaking to members of the media at a joint press conference called by himself and the Federal Minister for Sports, Najamuddin Khan at the HCP on Thursday afternoon, Asif said: “We are going to do everything it takes to give this fertile centre its international status back,” said the 23rd secretary of the PHF while listing the federation’s various pending problems to the media. At the forefront of the problems lies the issue of HCP, the only ground owned by the PHF, which after losing the spare land around it to various encroachments, also recently lost its international centre status.

It is a requirement of the Fédération Internationale de Hockey (FIH) for all grounds holding international matches to come with a practice ground as well as ample parking space. However, with the construction of apartments by the Army on land used earlier as a parking lot, and with practice pitch being encroached upon with a wall built around it, the HCP status as an international venue has been jeopardised.

On top of it all, its 30-year lease also expired in 1993 and the PHF has faced problems in having it renewed. “We met here to discuss all these problems in detail which includes lease formalities and acquiring an NOC from the cantonment board to upgrade this historic venue,” explained Asif. “Most of the pending dues have already been cleared and what’s remaining would be paid to the board in installments. But we will not compromise on the HCP.”

Continuing on the subject, he added: “Renovation plans include an underground parking area, getting possession of the warm up ground along with further improvements that will have the stadium fully restored for the holding of grand activities that it has been known for through the years.”

The former Olympian quoted a figure of Rs 16 crores, 80 lacs (168 million) that have already been approved for renovation of HCP by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who is also patron-in-chief of the PHF. Extending his support to the PHF secretary, the federal minister for sports Najamuddin Khan said: “All lands leased or given to the sports federations or boards have unfortunately been encroached upon. And not just here, you see it happening all around.”

“It has been observed for the past eight to 10 years that all sports here including our national game has have been steadily going downhill. I’m looking into the problems of various sports federations which is what’s brought me here as well today. The problems are aplenty but soon you are going too see a change, and this is not a mere statement mind you,” said Najamuddin who took charge as the federal sports minister a month ago.

To a question regarding the future of hockey in Pakistan, Asif Bajwa said: “I am determined to uplift the national game. Our main target at the moment is the Olympics for which I have given the team management a freehand for now and they in turn have assured me that we would do utmost to reach the podium at the Beijing Games.”

When asked whether just aiming to reach the podium was enough, the 1992 Olympic bronze medallist replied: “When I see that the players and the management is confident about reaching the podium, I am here to back them up. The rest you are welcome to ask me after the Olympics.”

Asif also announced that he was working on getting a set annual grant for hockey from the government instead of running around asking for them at various times during the year. “For starters, our annual grant has been raised from Rs2.5 million to Rs 5 million,” he announced.

The PHF secretary and the federal sports minister also announced the inception of a six-nation Benazir Bhutto tournament as a tribute to the slain politician, which is expected to start around mid-2009.