LAHORE: The president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, has said they paid all dues of their employees and players soon after taking charge a few months ago.

Talking to reporters at the National Hockey Stadium, where he inaugurated a new coaching programme of the Dar Hockey Academy, under which 25 kids of 10 to 12 years of age will get free coaching, Khokhar said they received some liabilities from the previous management of the PHF but he had cleared all arrears.

When reminded that he had vowed to make PHF accounts public through their official website, Khokhar said the practice would start soon.

He appreciated Olympian Tauqir Dar for running a hockey academy from his own resources.

To a question, he said the PHF would facilitate any Olympian who wanted to run such academies from their own resources.

He said the Dar Academy was serving hockey at the grass-roots by coaching kids.

PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior also praised the Dar Hockey Academy and he added the academy should be an inspirational force for other Olympians and sport lovers.

To a question, he said the PHF would not be involved in politics.

Tauqir Dar also appealed to other Olympians to start such academies instead of giving their views on TV channels.

He added that out of 25 kids three were girls.

Dar said free of cost coaching and hockey equipment was being provided to the players.

He said that besides the 25 kids, the academy had 40 players who had been getting coaching for the last many years.

Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman and former Pakistan captain Rehan Butt were also present on the occasion.

Parents of various students also thronged the National Hockey Stadium to see their kids play the game.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2015