ISLAMABAD: Taking a leaf out of Pakistan Cricket Board’s books of starting a cricket league next year at an offshore venue, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is now thinking of launching a hockey premier league in the country later this year.

According to new PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed, since discussions between the federation officials has just started it would be premature to say anything concrete at this point in time.

“At this stage, I can’t share further details, but we will try to hold this event within 90 days,” Shahbaz, a former national skipper, told Dawn on Tuesday. “To bring improvement in our hockey the PHF has to give incentive to the players. We will have to do something special for the youth, otherwise who will play hockey? Why youngsters would opt to become professional hockey players if there is no future.”

Shahbaz added the idea of starting a premier league is to attract youth.

Asked whether PHF will invite international players to participate in premier league, Shahbaz said: “As I already mentioned, things are at initial stage at the moment. But in the coming days and weeks, the picture will become clear.”

The secretary, in the meantime, said that the juniors’ camp for the Sultan of Johar Hockey Tournament and the Junior Asia Cup will be restart on Sept 28 at the Army Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi. After the camp ends on Oct 5, the national side will leave for Malaysia.

A total of 26 junior players — including 21 team members and five reserves — will attend the training camp.

Meanwhile, as part of the federation’s development plan to coach on modern scientific lines and to improve upon the technical know-how; the PHF is organising a coaching education programme on Sept 28 at the Army Hockey Stadium.

For national coaches’ clinic, Olympian Tahir Zaman, who is also a FIH master coach will be the course conductor. He will be assisted by Olympian Khawaja Mohammad Junaid as chief coordinator and Lt Col (retired) Nadeem Ahmed Bhatti.

The following coaches have been directed to report to Tahir at the appointed venue:

Major Asad Zia Malik (Army), Mohammad Usman (PIA), Mohammad Saqlain (Allied Bank), Mohammad Sarwar (Allied Bank), Mudassar Ali Khan (Wapda), Mirza Waheed Baig (Wapda), Babar Abdullah (Allied Bank), Mohammad Khalid (PIA), Khawar Javed (National Bank), Mohammad Ali Khan (Pakistan Customs), Kamran Ashraf (PIA), Atif Bashir (PIA), Mohammad Rasheed (Lahore), Rehan Butt (Wapda), Kashif Jawwad (Port Qasim Authority), Mohammad Imran (Army), Junaid Khan Jadoon (Navy), Kamran Sabir (Quetta).

Published in Dawn, September 23rd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play