MUCH has happened in the past few months in terms of the national game on which I wanted to share my views with the lovers of the game, but unfortunately certain commitments made it almost impossible for me to take time out to write. After all, I am not a professional writer who may scribble under all sorts of circumstances. I am grateful to all those who kept egging me on to restart this column, and I take this opportunity to assure them that I missed writing these pieces just as much as they missed reading it. It is a pleasure to reconnect with my readers.
Moving on to the main course, let’s start with the change at the top of the Pakistan Hockey Federation hierarchy, which represents a new start after a four-year period during which not much was achieved on the international stage. At least not in terms of major victories. In fact, there were times when the national team lost out by embarrassing margins to non-entities like New Zealand.
The man who now finds himself at the helm of affairs has been plucked out of the corporate sector. Tariq Kirmani has taken over the PHF with a huge reputation of being a successful leader of men and resources, and is known to have turned things around because of his vision, commitment and dedication.
While his selection is in line with the modern trend of putting a corporate structure on even sporting bodies in order to make them financially viable, due weight needs to be given to specific realities on the ground. If he can manage a core team to guide him through the nitty-gritty of hockey affairs in the country, Pakistan Hockey stands to gain a lot from his experience. Building a team is all the more important because PHF is not the only thing on the plate of the new boss; he is continuing with his corporate activities as well.
Probably because of his hectic schedule, the effects of the change at the top have yet not appeared on the surface. I mean I have yet to see a decision that may inspire confidence in those who have the good of Pakistan Hockey close to their hearts. The nation is still waiting for something concrete to come out of PHF corridors.
I fully realize that there are people who would try to paint my words as a case of showing undue haste. Let me assure them and, indeed, those concerned that this haste is not undue. There are serious assignments ahead of the national team, and there is hardly any time at all to waste. Pakistan Hockey needs drastic changes and the time to do that is now. Pakistan Hockey needs to shed the dead weight of past administrations in order to move on, and the time to move on, as I see it, is now.
We have tried several options in the recent past. We hired a high-profile foreign coach, but that failed to do the trick. We also tried the ill-advised option of having more than one coaches associated with the team simultaneously, but that failed to pay the dividend. We have tried various strategic field combinations in play under different coaches, but the gold medal has remained elusive.
Does all this mean that Pakistan Hockey has no future? Are we finished as a potential force in international hockey? Are we past our prime? Far from it. The fact is that the game has suffered in the country mainly because of the administrative failure of successive PHF regimes. If the PHF, under its new boss, can set its house in order with sincerity of purpose and real-life professionalism, things can still change. But the clock is ticking by. Time is short, and there is a lot to be taken care of. The earlier it is done, the better it would be for Pakistan Hockey.
Regardless of who is at the head, PHF will always have my best wishes. After all, PHF as a body is our only hope. All we need is true and effective leadership. I would like to believe that the wait would have been over with the latest appointment. Let’s see.
MUCH has happened in the past few months in terms of the national game on which I wanted to share my views with the lovers of the game, but unfortunately certain commitments made it almost impossible for me to take time out to write. After all, I am not a professional writer who may scribble under all sorts of circumstances. I am grateful to all those who kept egging me on to restart this column, and I take this opportunity to assure them that I missed writing these pieces just as much as they missed reading it. It is a pleasure to reconnect with my readers.
