LAHORE: Participants at the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) seminar on Monday suggested the federation to organise five- and seven-a-side hockey events at club, school and college levels by providing them required equipment and facilities in order to improve standard of the game.

The seminar, part of the federation’s programme titled ‘PHF Vision 2014-18 Resurgence of Hockey’, was conducted by FIH Grade-I High Performance Coach Tahir Zaman along with FIH coaches Khawaja Junaid and retired Colonel Nadeem Ahmed Bhatti.

Former Olympians Manzoor-ul-Hassan, Rasheed-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Akhlaq, Kamran Ashraf, Shahid Ali Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Sarwar, Nadeem ND, Mudassar Ali, Adnan Ashraf, Salim Khalid and Rehan Butt were also amongst the participants which also included umpires.

The participants suggested measures for improving the standard of umpiring and the professional functions of other technical officials relating to the game of hockey.

It was also recommended that PHF academies should be fully equipped with modern training facilities.

A long-term plan under the name of Hockey Welfare Organisation was another notable recommendation made during the seminar. It was advised that all top players of national teams should be insured with free medical treatment as well.

Furthermore, it was also proposed to look after deserving former Olympians and international players requiring financial assistance.

In his concluding remarks, PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said the federation intended to develop consensus for formulating short- and long-term plans in order to uplift the national sport.

The official added that the PHF also wanted their coaching, umpiring and technical officials to come under a proper accreditation system with certain field hockey qualifications.

Mujahid vowed that the federation would also invite other former senior Olympians to incorporate their suggestions in the ‘PHF Vision 2014-2018 Resurgence of Hockey’ programme.