Chandigarh, November 7
For the first time in the history of Chandigarh the cricket as well as the hockey teams of Pakistan are in the town to play their matches against their respective Indian counterparts.
The cricket team has arrived in the city today to play a high profile day and night ODI match at PCA Stadium, Mohali scheduled for November 8.
The Pakistan’s hockey club Multan Hockets, consisting of Olympian’s and junior international players, have come to compete for a pre-quarterfinal in 37th S. N. Vohra’s All India Gurmit Hockey Tournament underway at Sector 42 Hockey turf.
Talking to The Tribune, the Pakistan hockey squad reiterated that the state of hockey in Pakistan is almost the same as it is in India.
The reason, they opined, is the lack of its marketing, sponsors and the lack of knowledge about the latest techniques, which needs to be reviewed. “The game techniques have been changed with the changing times and we are not aware of new methods of training. In our country, there is no proper system or schedule for organising the hockey tournaments, especially in domestic circuit. The reason is that it is only the Cricket which sells,” said Mohammad Mansoor Ul Haq, the coach.
Comparing the system adopted by the European nations, Mohammad told they have separate wings for taking care of tournaments, physiotherapists chalk out training schedule of the players, their diet and their progress report etc.
Muhammad Shabbir, the Olympian, viewed that until and unless the government does not secure the future of the players the real talent would hesitate to come forward. “There is no dearth of talent in either of the countries, but the need of the hour is that the administrators of both the countries should come forward for the rescue of the hockey players,” said Mirza Waheed Baig, the coach.
Muhammad Shabbir, who hails from Sargodha, also runs a hockey club named as Punjab Hockey Club. In his club, around 35 to 40 young hockey enthusiasts in the age group of 8 to 15 years learn the finer nuances of the game.
Moreover, the old time Olympians, who dominate the proceedings in Pakistan say they have a little knowledge about the latest techniques adopted by the European countries. “There’s need to introduce leagues and tournaments in domestic circuit to make the game stronger at the grassroots level. That’s where we lack,” said Shafiqat Rasool, the junior hockey team captain.
Comparing with the Indian set up, an international player Aman Ullah expressed that the system in India is yet better than Pakistan. “The infrastructure here is much better than Pakistan. There are academies, who take care of the players’ education, their living expenses and to a larger extent, the shining players are also given jobs in prominent departments, which is a very major factor,” said Aman.
Zakar Ullah Khan, the right in player and part of 1996 Asia Cup gold medallist team chipped in “The jobs are also offered in Pakistan, as five of us are enrolled with Water and Power Proof Authority, which is the central government’s organisation in Pakistan. The Army, police or banks too absorb hockey players but still it remained constraint for a privileged few, the majority of the players are left to their own fate,” said Zakar.
What to talk of secured future, the hockey team does not get match fee for any tournament. How would we survive?
