LAHORE: Hockey dissidents are likely to join forces with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

The breakthrough regarding the hitherto hockey dissidents’ willingness to join forces with the PHF came as a result of negotiations recently launched by the three-member conciliatory committee constituted last month by PHF president Akhtar Rasool.

With the estranged former Olympians staying away from PHF sporting activities for five years, the PHF committee comprising retired Col Khawaja Zakauddin, Zafri and Iftikhar Sayed finally succeeded to convince ex-Olympians who, according to sources, may announce formal support for the PHF here at the national stadium.

Dawn has learnt that dissident former Olympians including Shahnaz Sheikh, Islahuddin Siddiqui, Ayaz Mahmood and Akhtar-ul-Islam will be meeting the PHF president who has recuperated from severe pneumonia after being hospitalised and will be rejoining the PHF office after a lapse of 15 days on Sunday to meet ex-Olympians.

While Manzoor-ul-Hasan Senior and Shahbaz Senior have already reposed confidence in Akhtar-led PHF, another big name Manzoor Junior has also met the PHF president extending full support.

Nonetheless, Samiullah is far from recognising Akhtar-led PHF with the flying horse being in the camp of Federal Sports Minister Riaz Pirzada, both belonging to Bahawalpur.

Also, other senior Olympians remained aloof during the tenure of Qasim Zia as PHF president. However, when Akhtar took over as PHF president he started wooing former Olympians particularly those showing resentment against the PHF for failing to take the national game to its due height.

It is instructive to note that Akhtar was elected as new PHF president last December despite opposition of a federal minister who wanted to impose ad hoc on the PHF. However, the minister’s summary recommending ad hoc was not accepted by the Prime Minister who is patron of the PHF.

Manzoor Junior while talking to Dawn said that he had already announced his support for Akhtar-led PHF, adding that it was a good decision by the celebrated Olympians to join hands for betterment of the hockey.

He further said that he had also asked the PHF president to strengthen working relationship with the Hockey India so that U-16, U-19, ‘A’ and seniors teams of both countries could play against each other frequently.

“I believe frequent hockey series between the two countries is the solution to raise standard of Indo-Pak hockey which has recently declined,” he said.