ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Rana Mujahid has announced to award central contracts to players, selection committee, coach and other staff on 21st of this month.
“PHF is in dire financial crunch. We know this is holy month of Ramazan and we wanted to clear the dues of all the stakeholders but due to non-availability of funds, federation is finding it really difficult to run day-to-day affairs. As soon as we get the funds, it is my promise we will clear each and every penny of the concerned persons.” Rana while talking to the The Nation Wednesday said his main aim of visiting the national camp in Islamabad is to check the progress of the players, share their problems and give them an understanding that federation is keeping a close eye on ground realities.
He said he and president Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool had made one thing quite clear that the players would get the maximum benefits as they were the ones who perform on the field and they deserved better treatment. “We have drawn a comprehensive plan in which players would be divided into four categories for year-based central contracts. D category is specially designed for those players who are knocking at the doors of junior and senior levels but are still struggling to get a permanent place in either format. D category players would benefit a great deal and so the federation, as they are the ones who in future carry the burden of helping the national team perform exceptionally in international competitions.”
Rana said he was very grateful to CM Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif for releasing grant as the early release of grant had made it possible for the federation to run two senior team camps and one junior team camp and also helped us a great deal in establishing Youth Olympic camp.
“We have written letters to Korean, Malaysian and Indian Hockey Federations for a series against Pakistan team. We have also written letters to European federations, which include Spain, Belgium, France, Germany and Netherlands. I am quite hopeful we will receive positive response from these federations by the start of next week. I know Pakistan have not played any international series or tournament for the last seven months. We would left no stone unturned and would try to provide maximum opportunities to our team for the preparations of Asian Games. I am quite confident with the vast experience of Shahnaz Shiekh and other seniors, green shirts will defend their title successfully.”
Rana also thanked Inter Provincial Coordination Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada and IPC secretary Chaudhry Ejaz for sending summery to Prime Minister for release of special grant of Rs 500 million annually for the federation. “It is my humble request to PM Nawaz Sharif to order early release of grant. This grant would help federation in fulfilling lot of commitments and help us in awarding central contracts to players and selection committee and other supporting staff. Our future plans totally depend on release of special grants, otherwise we will not be able to fulfill our even national commitments and it would be almost impossible for us to send team for Asian Games,” Rana concluded.