Only 35 players appear at hockey trials

KARACHI: Only around 35 players from Sindh and Balochsitan appeared in the open trials conducted for the selection of players for a tournament in Malaysia.

The low number of players astonished the PHF officials and the selection committee members.

The same thing had happened when Islahuddin-led selection committee held trials in Karachi in 2014. Only 44 players had appeared in those trials, forcing the selection committee to hold the trials next day, but that move had also failed to attract many.

It is pertinent to mention here that the open trials were held amid rumours that chief selector Rasheed Junior had resigned.

Only seven players from Hyderabad district appeared in the trials, which were conducted at HCP. Not a single player came for trials from Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Larkana.

A local organiser said the basic reason for the low number of players at the trials showed that the officials concerned had not motivated players to participate in the trials.

They had failed to motivate players because they did not organise hockey competitions. Players had asked that the federation pay for their travel and stay, which did not happen, so they avoided coming for hockey activities.

Selection committee members Olympians Farhat Khan and Waseem Feroze extended the trials for one day.

Another local hockey club official said that the failure of open trials in Karachi made it clear that hockey associations were not active in the province and that only a few clubs were active.

PHF’s previous management had conducted a scrutiny of clubs in 2013.

Only 20 clubs of Karachi were given the right to vote and 20 clubs were given the right to play. Keeping in view these numbers, the authorities should ascertain why so few players appeared for the trials.

The previous PHF management failed to address this issue.

PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed was also present at HCP during the open trials. He also noticed the thin appearance of players from the two provinces.

Sources in Karachi’s hockey circles said that the game was not organised in the city properly, so the players had not been active. “What benefit will it bring if they appear in the open trials? Those who play for departments and active clubs know that they will not be selected for the training camp of national senior team as different lobbies play active role in the selection process,” said a local organiser.

It is believed that Sindh players are not considered for the national team, not even for the training camp. Thus, their interest in hockey is declining fast.

A former player said the low number of players was enough to open the eyes of the PHF top brass. “They should see how the situation has deteriorated at the grassroots level. District hockey associations are not working and there is no club hockey in many districts of Sindh. There are only a few clubs and their players too do not take interest in the open trials organised by PHF,” he added.