LAHORE: Former Olympian Manzoor Junior has slammed the Akhtar Rasool-led Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) decision of appointing Shahnaz Sheikh and Islahuddin Siddiqui as head coach and chief selector, respectively, terming it an attempt to safeguard each other’s interests.

“In fact, both Shahnaz and Islah have been inducted into the PHF as ‘security guards’ of Akhtar Rasool, at the cost of principles,” Manzoor Junior, also a former Pakistan captain, said while talking to Dawn.

“Both Shahnaz and Islah had staged a sit-in in front of the Parliament against Akhtar’s election as PHF president. But later they joined him and were given the official posts,” Manzoor said.

According to Manzoor, when the former Olympians had been engaged in protests against the PHF regime, the federation offered him (Manzoor) any post he wanted, including that of chief selector.

However later, Manzoor added, both Shahnaz and Islahuddin joined hands with Akhtar and accepted the posts.

“The current PHF management is not sincere to national hockey, and they have joined hands with their critics [Shahnaz and Islahuddin] only to further their own interest,” Manzoor stated.

He further pointed out that the track record of both Islahuddin and Shahnaz as team officials had never been impressive, adding at their current ages both were not fit to meet requirements of the demanding assignments they had been handed by the PHF.

“Islahuddin could not even win the 1990 World Cup and later 1992 Olympics, despite having strong teams for both the prestigious competitions. And the current lot of national players given to him do not have the talent of the outfits of 1990s,” Manzoor underlined.

Asked after being elected as PHF president, Akhtar proceeded to Shahnaz and Islah to convince them to end the four-year confrontation and join the PHF to revive the ruined national sport, Manzoor stressed even in that case, both the Olympians should have not accepted any official post.

“Shahnaz and Islahuddin, at the maximum, should have given their suggestions [for the game’s improvement] to Akhtar. Please do not forget that both these players had not accepted Akhtar’s election as PHF president. Now after both having taken up the key hockey positions, how that election turned legal remains a mystery to me.”

He reckoned Islah and Shahnaz lacked the required ability to deliver, adding that it would have been better to appoint Khawaja Junaid as head coach.

“Except for Islahuddin and Ayaz Mahmood [another Olympian], the remaining members of the selection committee are the same tested individuals,” Manzoor highlighted.

While noting that Ayaz as selector was a good addition to the PHF, Manzoor regretted Shahid Ali Khan, under whose coaching Pakistan had suffered heavy losses including the last-place finish at the 2010 World Cup, had again been included in the set-up.

“I wonder how Shahnaz and Islahuddin are ready to work with the same people they have been criticising in the past,” he questioned.

In fact, Manzoor emphasised, the combination of Akhtar (president) and Rana Mujahid (secretary) was the result of a manoeuvre to continue the legacy of Qasim Zia (last PHF president) and Asif Bajwa (secretary), as both were also at the helm during Qasim’s tenure.

Manzoor also observed that Rana Mujahid’s position as PHF secretary was vulnerable in the presence of Shahnaz and Islahuddin.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2014