KARACHI, Jan 14 While appreciating club hockey and hockey at the district and regional levels for their role in unearthing talent here, Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui said that the departments, too, have a major part to play in the making of good players.

“Clubs followed by district and regional hockey have a big hand in finding new talent but it is the departments that really nurture the players as they offer them incentives,” said Pakistan hockey team's most successful captain to date.

He was addressing a gathering called by the Pakistan Sports Welfare Association (PSWA) and Al Sagheer Hockey Club in honour of the newly-elected office bearers of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and its regional and district associations at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Thursday afternoon.

While recalling how the national team at one time comprised some seven boys from the Customs department and six from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), he said that he hoped that Pakistan Customs would soon begin to hire talented boys like they used to do in the past. While congratulating MNA Khushbakht Shujaat for taking over the Women's Wing, he recalled how they had built the first women's hockey team several years ago.

“It is not easy for women to pursue sports here and those running women's sport affairs have a huge responsibility on their shoulders, too. Still we have faith in Khushbakht's abilities. Women's hockey will, no doubt, prosper under her leadership,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Secretary Siraj-ul-Islam Bukhari said “It is indeed regretful that Pakistan Customs stopped patronizing hockey like they used to earlier.”

About women's sport, he added “It is good to see the recent trend of women taking part in a variety of sports such as hockey and football, too. Unfortunately, not much has been happening in women's cricket unless you also take into account the activity taking place in law courts these days. Still, it was good to hear of a forthcoming women's Under-19 championship in Karachi which will also feature a Karachi team though I have no idea who selected that team.”

Meanwhile, the organisers announced two new hockey tournaments — one for men and another for women — to be played in March and April, respectively. The men's event will be named after Arts Council of Pakistan's Vice President Professor Ijaz Ahmed Farooqui, who was also the chief guest on the occasion.

While praising the PSWA for their efforts in promoting sports in Pakistan and honouring sports personalities, the professor thanked them for considering him worthy of such an honour. “It is good to see responsible people stepping forth to take over the reins in sports, especially in hockey as has been seen after the recent PHF elections, and other sports legends of the likes of Islahuddin Siddiqui and Iftikhar Syed offering them their support,” he said.

Among those who also spoke on the occasion were Mushtaq Ahmed, Ahmed Ali Rajput, Asif Ahmed Khan, Gulfraz Ahmed Khan and Olympian Iftikhar Syed. The gathering was also attended by Arif Bhopali, Talat Mahmood and Imran Warsi.