THE decision of Pakistan Hockey Federation to build up its talent resources is a step in the right direction. It is also an indication that the Federation is not sitting pretty on the team’s recent victory in the Azlan Shah Cup, and is actively working to extend the wining momentum, if possible, and to increase the chances of a true reversal of fortunes in the long run. All these are noble goals, and deserve to be lauded.
Though it has come a little late, the establishment of regular youth strings will definitely pay in the future. What the authorities must now concentrate on is strict adherence to the age limit. If past happenings are any indicator, things go haywire when an age-specific side is selected, with overage players making it to Under-19, Under-25 and other such strings. This is wrong.
While having youth strings, like Under-14, Under-16 and so on, it is even easier for the boys to play tricks with their age. The reality is that getting a birth or matric certificate of a date of choice is not a big issue in Pakistan, and interested boys — and their parents — often make use of such loopholes to increase the chances of selection.
While the PHF is not expected to set things right in respect of fake certificates, it can put in place some mechanism of its own to be sure of the age of those turning up for trial and selection. I have been associated with Pakistan hockey in one capacity or the other for a long time, and can say this from personal experience that girls and women are unnecessarily scoffed at trying to hide their age; those appearing for age-specific trials are the actual culprits. They don’t think much of wiping away a good four, five years from their actual age, and, as I said, producing a birth certificate of choice is not a problem in the country.
The PHF should place medical professionals who are experienced in age assessment through bone-testing. Besides, the selectors would also give proper weightage to physical looks while picking up the boys. These things will weed out the menace of overage players gobbling up undeserved places in junior and youth strings.
When a boy cheats about his age at, say, the Under-15 level, it does not sound a great deceit. But it is, because once the PHF has the data, his age will always be calculated on the basis of that data. By the time, such a chap makes it to the national side, his official age would be in the early-to-mid 20s, when actually he would be in his mid-to-late 20s. This gives the lad only a couple of years at the most at the international level. This, in turn, negates all efforts to improve the team’s performance through consistent selection.
Another factor that needs to be considered by the PHF management is the issue of boys representing various strings at the same time. This should be stopped. Once someone gets selected for the next string, he should not be picked to represent the cadre from which he has already moved on. This unnecessarily blocks places in that string, and shrinks the resource pool for the future. This rule should be applied on all strings, Senior, Whites, Junior, Youth or whatever.
