LAHORE: The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) as a new addition will be featuring in the 63rd National Departmental Round Hockey Championships which commences from Friday at the National Hockey Stadium.

The SNGPL has hired services of mainly junior players, offering them contract which is a good omen for hockey players who are getting less opportunity to earn their livelihood from the sport. Olympian Mohammad Usman has been appointed as head coach of the SNGPL.

Overall, 13 teams are participating in the championships with PIA trying to complete a hat-trick of winning the round while Wapda, NBP, SSGC and Pakistan Army will be other tough teams of the round.

Interestingly, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) issued draws before holding manager s’ meeting in accordance with the set rules of the domestic tournament. There are reports that some departmental teams have objected to the draws, which according to them, favour PIA and Pakistan Army teams

Interestingly, though the round is called premier league, teams have been divided into four rounds like round robin. Top two teams of each pool will qualify for the super league round with top two teams of the pool A and D to be placed in pool E while top two teams of pool B and C will form pool F.

Meanwhile, PHF Director Hockey Development said that Olympian Syed Musaddiq Hussain had been appointed as Tournament Director.

He said that 30 PHF’s regional teams would also compete in the month of Feb-March next year in the second phase of the national championship, adding every region will be allowed to include three departmental players.

He said instead of playing with four provincial teams, the PHF has decided to expand the base of players by holding the provincial round on regional basis as 240 players of 30 regional teams will bring a good number of players in the pool.

On the opening day, last year’s runners-up Wapda will take on the newcomers SNGPL in the first match. SNGPL head coach Usman said that his team was new but it comprised some talented youngsters.

He said SNGPL had provided all the facilities to its new look side which had the potential to create upset.

The semi-finals will be played on Jan 3 and the final on Jan 4.

It must be mentioned here that though the PHF has failed to get any sponsorship for this premier event, the event will not be a burden on the PHF since the accommodation and other responsibilities are on the respective departments.

Pools:

A: PIA, Navy, Railways; B: Wapda, SSGC, HEC; C: NBP, PQA, Police, PTV; D: Army, SNGPL, PAF.

Draws:

Dec 23: Wapda v SNGPL; Army v PQA; PIA v Navy.

Dec 24: Police v PTV; Railways v PIA; NBP v SSGC.

Dec 25: SSGC v HEC; Army v Police; NBP v HEC.

Dec 26: Railways v Navy; PQA v PTV.

Dec 27: Wapda v PAF; Police v PQA; Army v PTV.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2016