PHF needs to make a fresh start, says Samiullah

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan hockey great Samiullah Khan feared a further decline in the game’s standard, saying that no concrete steps so far have been taken to prepare a competitive outfit for the four important international events in 2018.

Talking to ‘The News’ Samiullah said that all the steps taken by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) recently in no way suggest that things were moving in the right direction.

“The only criterion to see whether the game’s standard is on the rise is to follow the national team’s performance. If you are winning tournaments abroad and improving your rankings by each passing year that means administrators have the capacity to do justice with their jobs.

“But if things are going from good to bad and the bad to worse then it gives a different picture. Sadly what happened during the last two years gives us impression that national hockey is in doldrums. God forbid, the trend we have seen in the recent months gives us impression that Pakistan would not be in a position to beat even minnows of the game in the months to come.

“Pakistan was at least considered amongst the top six or seven teams in the world. Now we are nowhere amongst the top 12 teams in the world. Fears are there that our rankings will decline further in coming months.”

Four important international events — Commonwealth Games, last edition of the Champions Trophy, Asian Games and then the World Cup are to be played this year. “This year possibly has more important international events than we have seen in the recent past. My question is whether Pakistan hockey is ready to face the best in the world or we are near to achieving that standard? I am afraid that we have not even started as yet.”

In 18 months time the team management has been changed for the third time clearly showing the dearth of decision-making powers by the administrators.

“Nowhere in the world such type of approach has been adopted. Such decisions expose the federation in real terms. It gives an impression that early decision taken by the top officials had no worth or value.”

Such changes, he added, were bound to ruin the combination of the team.Samiullah said that there was a need to take fresh start on all the fronts.“Mere changes in the coaching staff or selection panel would not make any difference. The PHF needs a fresh start. Every former hockey stalwart is worried about Pakistan hockey. Mere cosmetic overhauling would not make any difference as the things would go from bad to worse,” Sami said.

Sami said the PHF’s recent decisions would take hockey nowhere. “I think the time is already over for the federation to take strong decisions or to improve federation’s working.”Sami expressed his concerns over the new management and their ability to improve team’s plight.

“It is just another time-gaining tactic that would usher no positive results. Those who have reigns of the team in their hands are no new to hockey. They are the same who brought big disaster in the past. So expecting laurels from them this time would be like living in a fool’s paradise,” he said.

To a question about the PHF’s decision to honour him during the forthcoming World XI tour to Pakistan, he said he would go and receive the award. “Since veteran players from other countries would be here and country’s image and prestige is involved he would go and receive the award.”