KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation is set to get a major boost as Pakistan Navy is likely to patronise national hockey team on a long-term basis, Dawn has learnt.

The PHF has devised a strategy to involve public and private sectors to come forward and contribute their share to rescue the national game and bring the greenshirts back to the podium.

Under the plan, the PHF is making concerted efforts to give five other teams – U-21, U-18, U-16 and two women’s teams including U-18 to different organisations.

PHF secretary Syed Haider Hussain had a one-on-one fruitful meeting with Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf at the naval headquarters in Islamabad recently and apprised him of the proposed plan.

He threw the idea that navy should take the responsibility of looking after the national teams camps and their participation in international events in addition to bearing the expenses of air travel and daily allowances at home and abroad.

It is pertinent to mention that hockey was tagged with national carrier Pakistan International Airlines in the past.

Navy is already patronising water sports – sailing, rowing, canoeing – besides extending full support to squash and golf. Navy has also launched CNS Hockey Championship which is part of PHF calendar besides laying a five-a-side synthetic pitch at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M. Amjad Khan Niazi while speaking at the prize distribution ceremony of CNS hockey on Sept 28 last year, had expressed his desire that he was willing to support the national game to see its return on the right track.

The PHF has submitted proposed budget to the navy for two upcoming international assignments preceded by camps.

Pakistan is among the six nations who will compete in the 29th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup being held at Ipoh from Nov one to 10. The other five nations are Japan, South Korea, Canada, South Africa and hosts Malaysia.

This will be followed by FIH Men’s Hockey Nations Cup at South Africa from Nov 28 to Dec four. The eight nations who will feature are France, Ireland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan and hosts South Africa.

The national hockey camp in preparation for the above events will commence at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium from Sunday.

Meanwhile, in a communication, the FIH has felicitated PHF office-bearers on being elected for the term 2022-2026 on Aug 19.

The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has also certified that PHF is an affiliated unit of POA.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022