KHA plans hockey academies in all districts

KARACHI: Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) has appealed to the Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro to provide a ground in Clifton to establish an academy, ‘The News’ learnt on Sunday.

The ST-1 Block 2 in Clifton was allotted to KHA more than two decades ago but due to various reasons it has not been handed over to KHA. KHA is also seeking help from Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Director General Nasir Abbas in this respect.

The KHA wants to promote the national game at the grassroots level across the city and wants the grounds which belong to it to be used properly. Currently the Clifton ground is being used as a garbage dumping ground. It may be noted that due to the efforts of KHA, the DG KDA has revived his department’s hockey team after 20 years for the promotion of the national sport.

KHA president Dr Junaid Ali Shah has directed KHA secretary Haider Hussain to establish at least one academy in each of the six districts. It will help those players who cannot travel far because they are too young.

The expenses of these academies will be borne by Dr Junaid, who wants Karachi to once again produce world-class players as it did until two decades ago. KHA has already established three academies: at Pak Wonder Hockey Ground, Paposh Nagar, Pak Flag Hockey Ground in FB Area Block 17, and North Karachi Hockey Ground. These three grounds were most famous in the domestic hockey around 20 years ago.

If given control of the Clifton ground, KHA intends to develop a jogging track there to facilitate the residents of the area. The KHA president has been giving stipends to Karachi colts and monthly salaries to those players who represent Karachi in domestic competitions from his own resources.