PHF inaction hurting junior team’s preparation

KARACHI: The activities of national junior hockey team have remained suspended for past several months due to differences among officials of PHF.
The national junior team’s training camp for 2016 World Cup has been delayed since January this year. The national selection committee picked 35 players for training and sent 18 to Malaysia to participate in Johar Baru invitational hockey tournament in October 2014. Neither their training camp has been announced nor have foreign tours been finalised.
Sources said that appointment of national junior hockey team’s management, including its coaching staff, is the reason for the delay as PHF has failed to decide whom to appoint. When national junior hockey championship was being played in Karachi last month, chief coach Manzoorul Hasan and some others were not present in the city to see the performance of the players.
PHF’s joint secretary Anjum Saeed and another official Danish Kaleem held a press conference and talked against Manzoor. Manzoor has the support of PHF president Akhtar Rasool who wants to have former Olympians engaged in the affairs of national hockey. Those trying to get Manzoor removed have the support of secretary Rana Mujahid. It is pertinent to mention that the country’s colts failed to reach the quarter-finals of the WC last time despite having the services of at least nine players who had played Olympics.