BY the time these lines appear in print, the first international hockey league in Pakistan would have already got under way at Karachi’s Hockey Club Stadium. It is, no doubt, a win-win situation for all concerned, with no losers at all.
Pakistan hockey stands to benefit the most, as the event will likely bring in decent crowds and this will help enlarge the fast-shrinking base of the game in the country. The national team’s recent Rabo Cup gold medal will also synchronize well with the timing of the league. Since the event will be broadcast live on national television, the appeal will be that much more, and the sponsors will also feel satisfied with their investments.
Senior players will have reasonable practice and an equally reasonable monetary package, which is something that they will surely appreciate. On their part, young players will have an opportunity to showcase their talent during the ten-day event which will hopefully be watched by those who matter in Pakistan Hockey.
Even the venue and the city of Karachi will get due mileage out of the event. It has been some time that the last major hockey activity was held in Karachi, which is such a pity because it always used to be the country’s major hockey centre, and I personally have fond memories of that era. For reasons beyond the scope of this column, foreign teams have stopped touring the city, and even the training and conditioning camps for the national team are more often than not held in cities other than Karachi. The Super League will mark the return of mainstream hockey to Karachi, and I hope some day international events will also be staged here.
Since a handful of Indian players will also be featuring in the League, it will be a strong argument for both provincial and federal governments to make while dealing with future itineraries not just in terms of hockey but all sports, including cricket. If Indian players can spend a fortnight in Karachi without a hassle, it needs to be taken as a clear indication of the sort of peaceful conditions that prevail in the city.
So, you see, there are no losers in this equation, provided, of course, that the event is managed smoothly and professionally. I wonder why the PHF delayed it for so long, and started planning only after the Indians held their Premier League last year in which certain Pakistani players had also participated.
In Europe, the league made its mark a good couple of decades ago, and it has really come of age in recent times with huge money to be made by the players. Europe, in fact, has organized the game at multiple levels, like, for instance, the streaks related to juniors, children, women and even veterans. They have the league, then there have the clubs and indoor hockey. They went a step further this season by holding the first ever beach hockey competition in Holland. It was held in Scheveningen, and was organized by no other than the famed former international Floris Jan Bovelander.
In addition to it all, they have weekend competitions where teams from neighbouring countries cross over and have fun over the weekend. Since Europe is a close-knit continent and there are no hassles for various nationals to move within the continent, there are no administrative hiccups, and the competitions have been flourishing for the past several years.
With so much activity at so many levels going on as a matter of routine, it is no wonder that the game of hockey is thriving across Europe, raising the standard at the national level which then translates into impressive performances in the international arena. It is no exaggeration to say that Europe, and not Asia, is the hub of major hockey-related activities.
The Super League, as such, is a step in the right direction and though Pakistan took a long time taking that decision, it is better late than never.
BY the time these lines appear in print, the first international hockey league in Pakistan would have already got under way at Karachi’s Hockey Club Stadium. It is, no doubt, a win-win situation for all concerned, with no losers at all.
Since a handful of Indian players will also be featuring in the League, it will be a strong argument for both provincial and federal governments to make while dealing with future itineraries not just in terms of hockey but all sports, including cricket. If Indian players can spend a fortnight in Karachi without a hassle, it needs to be taken as a clear indication of the sort of peaceful conditions that prevail in the city.
