KHA offers central contracts to 25 players

KARACHI: Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) president Dr Junaid Ali Shah announced central contracts for its 25 players at a ceremony held at KHA complex on Wednesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr Juanid Ali Shah said that a new journey of Karachi’s hockey was going to be started. “A turf has been laid at our hockey complex. Karachi’s hockey team has been selected and central contracts are being given to our players. The wages of the players will be increased when they play well in domestic tournaments,” he said.

He said that soon KHA would hire eight coaches for the training of its teams. The names of the coaches would be announced soon and central contracts would also be given them, he added.

Dr Junaid said that Karachi’s hockey talent was considered the best in the world in the past as it produced a number of renowned Olympians and international players. “KHA’s goal is to regain that status,” he said.

He applauded the role of KDA DG Nasir Abbas for the revival of hockey in the city.

KHA secretary Haider Hussain said that central contracts have been given for six months after which it will be reviewed.

Haider claimed that it is the first time in Karachi’s hockey history that 25 players have been given central contracts.

He said that for the preparation and training of Karachi players there would be two training sessions, morning and evening. “As schoolboys cannot attend the training session in the morning, they will be trained in the evening,” he said.

The KHA secretary said that hockey activities at KHA complex would be started from Ramadan. “First, we will start inter-school hockey championship. Its dates will be announced later,” he added.

KHA chairman Gulfraz Khan said that KHA affairs would be run transparently and talent, performance and fitness would be the only criteria of selection.

PHF president Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokar appreciated the move of KHA and hoped that the measures taken by KHA would revive the national game in the country.  He said that PHF would provide all possible support to all associations in the country.