KARACHI, Jan 23: Chairman FIH Coaching Group Tayyab Ikram on Friday expressed his pleasure at coming across much budding hockey talent in Pakistan.

Tayyab Ikram visited Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Academy No. 1, at the UBL Sports Complex, and Academy No. 2, at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) on Friday.

Speaking later to the coaches including those from the Hockey Academy Hyderabad and the Karachi Academy trainees, he said it was the first time that the PHF was working at the grassroots level and added that he hoped to see much talent emerging from Pakistan through it in the next three to four years.

“As I have seen in these past few days during my visit to Lahore and the other cities, there is no dearth of hockey talent in Pakistan,” he said to the coaches.

“The best thing about the programme is that the boys selected for training at all the academies look to be of genuine ages too,” he added.

“I would also suggest to all coaches, who have been handed over such a great responsibility of grooming young talent, to concentrate more on teaching the technical aspects of the game rather than making them play matches amongst themselves. They are to be kept abreast with all the rules and regulations too,” he said.

Later, in his lecture to the boys, the FIH coach said: “You are some of the lucky few to be selected by the federation to be groomed to win honors for Pakistan.”

He also stressed on their carrying on with their studies besides learning to play the game professionally: “I hope you won’t neglect your education while learning to play. Do also study hard and pay special attention to what your coaches have to say to you.”

“Playing attention to fitness is also very important. Learning how to keep fit at this age will help you throughout your playing career,” he pointed out.