KARACHI: The inaugural Mayor Karachi Gold Cup Inter-district hockey league will be organised at the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) Hanif Khan-Dr Junaid Ali Shah Sports Complex from Nov 15.

Mayor Waseem Akhtar gave his consent for organising the event in a befitting manner when a KHA delegation led by former noted Olympian Hanif Khan called on him in his office the other day to seek support in reviving the national game in the metropolis.

Six district hockey teams of the metropolis will compete for honours in the event that carries fabulous prizes in cash and kind. According to details, Rs2,50,000 will be at stake for the winners while Rs1,25,000 will be set aside for runners-up besides Rs5,000 for every man of the match.

In addition, three brand new motorcycles – one each for best player of the tournament, top scorer and best goalkeeper – will be awarded.

Hanif Khan and Samiullah were named as tournament director and chairman of the organising committee respectively. Secretary KHA Syed Haider Hussain will be the organising secretary. The Mayor assured to make the event an annual affair after getting nod from the house.

Giving two-hour patient hearing to the delegation, the mayor assured to give employment to 16 players and two officials in the KMC in the near future, the KHA secretary told Dawn.

Besides creating hockey facility at Kashmir Road complex, he acceded to develop all hockey fields in the city one by one namely Pak Flag ground in block 17 F. B. Area, ground in North Karachi sector 11, Shah Faisal Colony ground, Pak Wanders hockey ground and Khalid Bin Waleed hockey ground among others aimed at facilitating players near their residences.

Yet to another proposal the mayor agreed to revive hockey in the government schools with the support of KHA who will depute coaches free of cost.

The mayor was assisted by MNA Iqbal Mohammad Ali Khan, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, chairman Parks and Recreation Hanif Surti, director sports M. Rehan, vice chairman DMC Central Syed Shakir Ali and director sports KWSB Azam Khan.

Besides Hanif and Haider the KHA delegation was represented by former Olympian Waseem Feroz, Gulfraz Khan, Dr. S. A. Majid, Jawaid Chattari, Asma Shah, Beenish Mohammad Ali and Naheed Fatima.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2018