‘Will take one more week to decide junior hockey team management’

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will take one more week to decide the management of junior hockey team for the Asia Cup 2020.

The PHF will also announce the names of probables for the training camp and its schedule. The federation will appoint the team management after thorough consideration and keeping in mind the future events, particularly the Junior World Cup and Olympic qualifying rounds, secretary Asif Bajwa said on Thursday while talking to ‘The News’.

“Decisions at this level will shape our future. The boys who shine in the upcoming international tournaments will automatically make their way into the senior team,” he added. Asif emphasized on the importance of modern-day hockey and coping with the challenges that come with.

“Hockey is becoming more demanding and we need coaches, staff and players who are well-equipped to deal with it. We will not rush to any decision,” the secretary said. He said that the names of some former Olympians and international players were in consideration and it would take at least a weeks’ time before they decide anything. “When we get through this phase, we will then announce the names of probables for the training camp and its schedule ahead of the Asia Cup,” he added.

The national hockey team’s selection committee, led by Manzoor Junior, had handed over the names of 51 juniors to the PHF, on the last day of the national junior championship. The PHF secretary has given preference to junior hockey and has announced that two more junior tournaments will be organized in the near future.