October 11, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 11, 1429

LAHORE, Oct 10: While having no objection on working with a junior Olympian secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) like Asif Bajwa, senior former Olympian and Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh has said that no appointment in the federation should be made on political basis.

Talking to reporters on a visit to the Tauqir Dar Academy at the National Hockey Stadium (NHS) here on Friday, Shahnaz said: “Those who love to serve national hockey should have no objection whosoever is the secretary and who not, otherwise.”

Shahnaz added that every Olympian should play a role in the uplift of the game from the core of his heart.

“It is my suggestion to all hockey Olympians to set up their own academies in order to pay back to the game what it has given to them,” he stated.

Shahnaz, who is to retire from PIA in April next year, further said that after the retirement he was planning to establish his own academy in Rawalpindi.

“The country needs a pool of players, which, unfortunately, is not available as our hockey seems to be revolving around just 35 players. The problem can be solved by setting up a good number of academies,” he said.

While pointing out that many former Indian Olympians were running their academies in the neighbouring country, Shahnaz said at least 10 to 12 Olympians should also set up academies here in Pakistan.

He said a pool of 300 to 400 quality players should be groomed through these academies in order for the national team to have a back up for every player.

He emphasised that no appointment in the PHF should be made on political basis and every post of the federation must be a filled through a democratic process, adding that the main office-bearer, including the president should work on full-time basis.

Shahnaz also reiterated that the PHF President Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali should quit the post while accepting his responsibility for the Beijing Olympics debacle where Pakistan finished at its worst ever at eighth.

He said as Khawaja Zakauddin, Naveed Alam (coach and assistant coach) and chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui had tendered their resignations for the same, the president too should follow suit.

Shahnaz was also of the view that the PHF should stop participating in unnecessary tournaments abroad in order to save money.

“The four-nation or six-nation tournaments are not serving our national team. Instead, the PHF should invite foreign teams, even that of Bangladesh, if the bigger hockey-playing countries are unwilling to visit here due to security concerns. Maximum activities at home could play a vital role in the game’s promotion,” he expressed.

Shahnaz also urged the government to play its due role in promoting the national game, adding the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fund should also be used on hockey and squash. He also asked the government to introduce hockey at the school level, citing it was the best platform to hunt talented players.