KARACHI: The green mini astro turf is a humble contribution from the Pakistan Navy to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), particularly, to the people of metropolis, for the revival of national game in the country.

“Pakistan hockey has ruled the world for decades and unfortunately today when its standard has gone down we need collective efforts to revive it,” the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah said at the opening of new mini synthetic pitch at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

Addressing a select gathering of former Olympians, internationals and senior naval officers in front of the Athletic Fitness School (AFS), the CNS said he is elated to revisit the stadium after 13 months to fulfill his promise that he had made at the launch of the CNS hockey last year.

Amidst applause, he announced that the navy will lay another similar turf at the PNS Karsaz.

He expressed his optimism that budding players will fully utilise the facility and hone their skills to the international standard.

Admiral Zakaullah said there’s no dearth of talent in sports in general and hockey in particular, in the country, but regretted that they lacked proper facilities.

He had a word of praise for the sponsors who have generously helped in creating the first-ever facility that had cost approximately Rs10 million.

The CNS asked other philanthropists, private sector and other stake holders to follow suit by repaying debt in the larger interest of the national game.

Soon after his arrival at the stadium, the CNS unveiled the plaque close to the mini turf and played a shot to mark its formal inauguration.

The CNS, who remained at the stadium for one-and-a-half hour, also witnessed an exhibition match played between ex-Olympians XI and ex-Internationals XI at the new turf for 20-minutes in two sessions. The latter won the match 9-5.

Admiral Zakaullah, who is also two-time former Asian Games gold medllist in Enterprise class with retired Capt Munir Sadiq, also exchanged pleasantries with two veteran yachtsmen, Byram D. Avari and retired Maj. Mahyar M. Dhatigara.

Speaking on the occasion, the PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed thanked the CNS for fulfilling his commitment and creating history by taking the lead over others.

He announced that an inter-school hockey tournament will soon be organised at the newly laid mini turf.

At the outset, Commander Karachi Rear Admiral Farrokh Ahmed gave a resume of the new facility and thanked sponsors particularly, Sohail Shams of the United Marine Agencies, Ladoobhai for their help besides his team for working day in and day out.

Besides, the ceremony was attended among others by Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini, Commander Coastal Command Vice Admiral Waseem Akram, Commander Logistics Rear Admiral Sajid Wazir, squash legend Jahangir Khan, former Olympians Samiullah, Hasan Sardar, Hanif Khan, Jahangir Butt, Iftikhar Syed, Shahid Ali Khan, Mansoor Ahmed, Waseem Feroz, director administration PHF camp office Waseeq Ahmed, Chaudhry Ashraf, Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) president Dr Junaid Ali Shah, and secretary former international Haider Hussain.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2017