KARACHI, Aug 16: The Pakistan Table Tennis Federation (PTTF) has dropped a bombshell by suggesting to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to amend its Model Constitution which should restrict the role of provincial Olympic associations only to facilitation and coordination of sports activities instead of controlling provincial sports bodies and interfering in the affairs of National Sports Federations (NSF).

In addition, the POA should also modify its Constitution recommended by it for the NSF’s allowing the district sports associations’ dual affiliation to provincial sports associations as well as to the NSF’s.

The suggestions put forward by the PTTF president, S. M. Sibtain, as one of the remedies of organisational structure were communicated to the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) recently.

The director general of the PSB, through a letter, has sought details of utilisation of grant released by his office for the last three years, results, issues and their remedies.

The PSB official is due to meet the key office bearers of the NSF after the Beijing Olympics.

Responding to a query, Sibtain said the PSB released grants of Rs5,731,817 over a period of three years to the PTTF. The break-up includes annual grants from 2005-06 to 2007-08 @ Rs1,000,000, special grants of Rs559,657 in 2006-07 and Rs2,172,160 in 2007-08.

He disclosed the Pakistan Sports Trust (PST) doled out Rs1,068,500 in 2005-06, Rs2,260,936 in 2006-07 and Rs2,000,000 in 2007-08 for equipment, domestic and foreign training, coaching, technical courses and participation in juniors as well as other major competitions.

Sibtain pointed out that the PTTF generated Rs5,401,318 during the last three years through donations, cash, equipment sponsorship and free equipment sponsorships and equipment assistance from ITTF-ATTU. The PTTF account for 2008-09 was opened in July 2008 with sponsorships of Rs1,420,000 for the South Asian junior championship, he added.

Referring to employment, he said five boys and 11 girls have been offered contractual jobs after 2005. In addition, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi City District Table Tennis Association are motivating private sector organisations to offer sponsorships to cadet and juniors for pursuing education and table tennis, he said.

He regretted that a large number of players were rendered jobless when commercial organisations disbanded their sports departments which resulted in decline of domestic competitions.

The incumbent informed that drastic measures have been taken since his coming at the helm of affairs in Sept 2005 with the aim to bring back the game where it was some two decades back.

He suggested that besides ITTF coach Arif Khan, services of former players Irfanullah, Arif Nakhuda and Asim Qureshi be utilised by the PSB on market price adding they can yield better results than foreign coaches.

“They have been outstanding players in their time, undergone coaching with best Chinese coaches and have remained engaged in part time coaching since stepping down from international competitions,” he added.

The PTTF, he said, has succeeded in creating a pool of players, coaches and umpires in addition to procuring sufficient stock of equipment.

Sibtain said Pakistan teams featured in 17 international competitions including two at home during the last three years.

“Though to regain the lost pride was an uphill task, yet the PTTF was determined to achieve it provided it got support from all stake holders,” he concluded.