KARACHI Former Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui has been named a goodwill ambassador and awarded the honorary citizenship of Houston by the Mayor of Houston, Bill White for his services to the sport of hockey.

Speaking to Dawn on Monday, a jetlagged yet elated Islah, who just returned from the US where he also attended the 41st FIH Congress as a member of the FIH World Rules Board, said 'I had proceeded to Houston, TX after the Congress moot. The honour was bestowed on me in recognition of my services to the game of hockey. I feel extremely proud to have earned this honour for Pakistan.'

The former player, who made his debut in 1967 and retired in 1979, has played a total of 130 Test matches for Pakistan while scoring as many as 117 goals.

Islah, who managed to win 43 Tests out of the 45 in which he led the national team during two World Cups, the Asian Games, the 1st Champions Trophy and several other series, stepped down from the posts of manager-cum-chief coach and chief selector last year. He currently serves as a member of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Executive Board.