The annual inter-school and inter-collegiate competitions for boys and girls being organised by the directorate of school education and college education separately, are unheard of these days. The events discovered hundreds and thousands of budding athletes who later donned Pakistan colours and did their country proud. The athletes look enthusiastic to compete with confidence brimming from their faces. Those events also served as a reserviour and kept the the cycle moving for over four decades.

Alas! All the good work delivered by a team of dedicated people for years and years has been ruined and nobody was made accountable for the drastic fall.

Instead, their places have been taken over by commercial Inter-school and Inter-collegiate events which take place every now and then. The organisers charge hefty entry fees from educational institutions particularly, those who run a chain of Cambridge institutions where students belonging to affluent class were enrolled.

The Assistant Director Physical Education (ADPE) of formerly Directorate of School Education the late Mukhtar Ahmed, his co-officer the late Naqi Khan and the Director Physical Education (DPE) of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education the late Hamid Ali Ansari were responsible for staging Inter-school and Inter-collegiate events. The latter had an additional responsibility of selecting and sending various Karachi Board teams for the Inter-board events. These gentlemen can be seen at different stadia in the evening. Outstanding athletes from IX to XII Grades are eligible for selection in Board team.

Besides, there were other eminent people who have played an effective role in schools/colleges by raising best teams and offering freeship to promising sportspersons. Prominent among them who were responsible for scouting and grooming talent at the school-level were Master Iqbal Hussain (GBSS Model School), Ali Haider Khan, Master Azher Fatehpuri (GBSS Kotwal Building), Ainuddin Khan (GBSS Nazimabad No 1), Shabih Abbas (Habib Public School), Kabir Ahmed (Ibrahim Alibhai School), Shahzad Khan (Nasra School) and Dost Mohammad (St Patricks School). There were two principals — Dr Azhar Rizvi (Model School) and Abdul Moid Farooqui (Sindh Madressah) — who have a passion for sports.

As regards colleges, Prof Hashmatullah Lodhi (S M Science College), Prof Abdul Latif Khokhar (D J Science College), Prof Mukarram Ali Sherwani (National College), Prof A M Farid (S M Arts and Commerce College), Prof Siraj-ul-Islam Bokhari (Nabi Bagh College), Prof Shamim Suri (St Patricks College), Prof M A Khan (Premier College) were instrumental in taking sports to new heights. With the exception of Khokhar, others were all principals and had a passion for sports.

Mrs Nasim Usman Nagi (Sir Syed College), Mrs Blossom Ajmal (St Joseph’s College), Mrs Nargis Iqbal (Karachi College for Women), Mrs Nuzhat (PECHS), were among others who played an active role for uplift of women’s sports in the city colleges.

Besides, there were other notable people including Abdul Rauf (Commerce College), Anwar Hussain (DJ College) and Siddiq Singhar (S M Commerce College) who worked relentlessly for promotion of sports.

However, before being picked by the above men and women, the promising sportspersons were polished by honorary coaches who used to run various clubs and associations at different stadia of the city.

“The whole system that worked effectively for decades started collapsing when these devoted people left for eternal abode one after the other,” commented Shabih Abbas who voluntarily ran the YMCA hockey club for a long time before it ceased to exist. The club is known for discovering goal-keepers Shahid Ali Khan, Mansoor Ahmed, Ahmed Alam, Ejaz Khokhar and centre forward Mumtaz Haider among others who went on to represent the country.

One of the greatest examples of nurturing ordinary players into champions is that of former international athlete Mohammad Talib who is approaching 80 but can be seen at his Athletic Fitness School every evening.

“The people who are at the helm of sports affairs in Matric and Intermediate boards should take respective associations of the game on board while staging Inter-school, Inter-collegiate events and selecting Karachi Board teams,” former international basketball player Abdul Nasir told Dawn.

According to knowledgeable sources, funds have never been a problem, both for educational institutions and the Matric/Intermediate Boards, but its proper utilisation needs to be ensured. This can be gauged from the fact that sports fee is mandatory for students at the time of admission in schools/colleges. Similarly, the Matric/Intermediate Boards charge nominal amount under the head of sports fee from students with the submission of examination forms.

Being a former athlete, I myself have remained part of the system and a first hand witness of the golden era of country’s sports. I also had the honour to light the relay torch of the 1970 National Games at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation.

The nations that pursue healthy sporting activities make positive contribution in the world. The revival of sports culture at all levels is need of the hour and can immensely help the nation come out of the ongoing crisis.

Published in Dawn March 15th , 2015

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