LAHORE: The newly elected president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, has set his sights on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics though his term will end in December 2017.

While targeting the 2020 Olympics, he ignored some important major events like World Cup and Asian Games which will be held in 2018 in addition to the 10th Asia Cup which will be played in 2017.

Addressing his maiden press conference with new secretary-designate Olympian Shahbaz Senior at the National Hockey Stadium here on Wednesday, Khokhar said, “Our main target is the 2020 Olympics and the immediate target is bringing improvement in hockey both at senior and junior levels.”

Hints at shifting PHF office to Islamabad

When asked if the 2018 World Cup should not have been his first target, the president claimed that was a short-term objective and did not say anything about the two other major events like Asia Cup and Asian Games.

To a question, the PHF president he was not clear if his tenure was for the remaining period of December 2013 elections, when Akhtar Rasool had been elected, or was that for four years.

“I have not read the PHF constitution in this regard but I think our tenure is for the remaining period. The Executive Board may revisit it,” he said.

Throughout the press conference, Khokhar tried to avoid any controversy but when reminded that PHF’s former president Zafarullah Khan Jamali had expressed reservations over several new appointments made by the former and that he was annoyed for bypassing him while taking those decisions, the PHF president said, “Mr Jamali is my elder brother and I worked with him as a selector in the past. We are also listening different stories in this regard but our humbleness should not be taken as weakness.

“In fact, Shahbaz Senior is the choice of Mr Jamali for PHF secretaryship. All talks with Mr Jamali were held behind closed doors and nothing came out in the media from my side. We will accept advice for betterment of hockey from every corner,” he said.

He said next year’s Junior World Cup, to be held in Delhi, is also one of the top priorities of the PHF and for which all possible facilities were being given to the camp probables in Islamabad.

The PHF president admitted that the camp probables were picked by only two selectors, chairman Rashid-ul-Hasan and Saeed Ahmed, but promised that the next selection will be made by the entire selection committee.

He said the Astroturf at Islamabad had been improved and so far no injury was reported to any probable at the camp.

To a question, Khokhar said the total liability of the PHF was Rs30 million, which might increase.

He said the previous PHF management had sent a request to the prime minister for grant which was not duly processed. He added he would try his best to start the process for the grant again.

The PHF president claimed all expenditures of the PHF would be available on its official website for anyone to see. It may be mentioned that Akhtar Rasool had also made a similar claim but the federal government did not release him any grant.

To a question, he admitted a deal had taken place between him and the previous management of Akhtar Rasool that he would not take any case on personal ground.

He added that full-fledged audit of the PHF was going on and action against anyone would be taken by the government.

The PHF would not be a party, however, he added, the PHF as facilitator would provide all kinds of information and documents to competent authorities doing the audit.

Khokhar said he had no group in the PHF and he would try to move forward with all stakeholders for betterment of hockey.

To a question, he hinted that the head office of the PHF might be shifted to Islamabad.

“The situation is not good in Lahore as you can’t enter the PHF office from the front main gate. The PHF will decide which city is better for it,” he said.

The PHF head office has been working in Lahore since 1948 but shifting it from here just because both PHF president and secretary are based in Islamabad will not set a good example.

He said a think-tank comprising notable Olympians, advisory board and people from the corporate sector would be formed.

About the option of hiring the services of a foreign coach, he said such decisions would be taken after thorough discussions.

He said the new PHF management would focus on promoting hockey at school, college and club levels.

The PHF president said an academy will be established in Gojra, which had a large contribution in national hockey.

He said they were also planning premier league both at senior and junior levels.

He was of the opinion that they could attract more families to hockey grounds if they organise matches under floodlights.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz said school hockey will start from Lahore and added that the best hockey playing school team will be sent to Europe as an incentive.

Meanwhile, the PHF president twice said, “Don’t expect miracles from us but miracles do happen and they can happen.”

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2015

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