Khokhar confident Pro League issue will be settled

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Brig (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, who chaired the 54th meeting of the congress, sounded confidence in nullifying the negative impact of the Pro League ban, saying that matter would be amicably settled during the forthcoming FIH Board meeting.

In a media talk at a local hotel Tuesday following Congress meeting, the PHF president said he met FIH and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) officials during his recent stay in Japan. “We were assured nullifying of any negative effects of Pakistan hockey in wake of our recent inability to compete in the pro league. We gave the reasons of our pulling out of the league which were accepted by these officials.”

Brig (rtd) Khokhar who was also accompanied by the FIH Board member Shahbaz Ahmad also dispelled the impression that Pakistan would not be in a position to participate in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “I don’t think that is right. We would be in a position to qualify for Olympics. The matter would be resolved in March 15 Board meeting.” Brig (rtd) Khokhar also announced that Poland national team would visit Pakistan in April this year. “We are to from four group of teams to play series of matches against the visiting team during their one week of stay in Pakistan. These teams would consist of players who are under-24 year of age.” He said that Pakistan would also host Asian Hockey Five event in months to come. “The final date of the event would be announced soon.”

Meanwhile, Zahir Shah, president KPK Hockey Association has been elected as the associate secretary of the federation by the council members.

Zahir Shah during the meeting raised questions against unconstitutional measures taken by the PHF in recent times and said that all reservations of the members and elected provincial association officials should be removed. Objections were raised on the accounts handling of the PHF. The House on the occasion constituted different committees to look into the constitutional problems being faced by the PHF. “The accounts would be approved once committees formed would go through details of the accounts.” The proposed changes in the PHF constitution were also differed for the time being. “The matter of constitutional changes would be initiated once the committee formed for the purpose goes through the pros and corns of these changes.” The president PHF said he had been waiting for the report on the World Cup debacle. “We have yet to receive the report on World Cup debacle from the committee that was formed for the purpose.” When asked as why there had been no activities on domestic hockey front, Brig (rtd) Khokhar said efforts would be made through meagerresources to generate activities at all levels. Meanwhile, hours after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) 54TH Congress meeting, a group of former Olympians headed by most decorated of national players Manzoor Hussain Junior called the federation meeting unconstitutional and the one participated by friends and family members.

Manzoor junior who virtually have won all the gold medals offered in hockey world also announced conducting series of protests and Dharanas against PHF officialswho according to him were holding these posts unconstitutionally.

“According to Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) laid down rules, every federation is given specific time to hold their elections within the expiry of their tenure. The PHF elections were held after that period that means the elected members are holding their posts unconstitutionally.”

Manzoor Juniors who was also accompanied by Olympians Khawaja Junaid, Naveed Alam, Khalid Bashir and Salim Nazim besides officials of Sindh, Gujranwala and Karachi Hockey Association, said he had already started legal battle against the this PHF. “We would fight on all fronts including initiating legal battle against this unconstitutional federation. Arranging protests and Dharna would be our key focus in days to come.”