LAHORE: While outlining a stage-wise plan to bring crisis-laden Pakistan hockey back on track, newly appointed secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa on Monday plainly told the game’s followers not to expect any “miracles” from the green-shirts at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Interestingly, the main target of PHF president retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar — when he assumed charge in 2016 — who has appointed Bajwa as secretary, was the 2020 Olympics.

On Saturday, PHF president Khokhar replaced Shahbaz Senior with Bajwa as secretary.

“No doubt for everyone the main [PHF] targets are Olympics and World Cup and if it is not it means you are not here for [proper] working. [Currently] however, there are very slim chances of any miracle happening for Pakistan at the 2020 Olympics. It is a reality and we should accept this reality,” Bajwa, who acted as the PHF secretary from 2008 to 2014, said during his maiden press conference here on Monday after being given the same post again.

Newly appointed PHF secretary highlights phase-wise plan to rescue Pakistan hockey

Monday was Bajwa’s first working day as PHF secretary.

Interestingly, Bajwa avoided commenting on Pakistan’s chances at next year’s Olympics in his four-point agenda he presented as part of his plan.

“We have to discuss it at length and after getting the approval of the PHF executive board on my appointment as secretary I will be in a position to give a detailed programme about the Olympics,” he said while replying to a question on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

According to Bajwa, the top priority at present would be to steer Pakistan hockey from the deep crisis and build a formidable national side.

“In the first phase, the target is to improve Pakistan’s world ranking from the present 12 to 10; and during the next four years the aim will be to make the top four with the support of all the provincial and federal governments,” Bajwa said.

“We will also bring constitutional reforms on priority basis to make the PHF a national institution. Moreover, we will restore the respect of our [former] Olympians as unfortunately we have exchanged a lot of mud-slinging against each other,” he lamented.

“I will go all over to meet the ex-Olympians to seek their support for the noble cause of putting Pakistan hockey on right track.”

While assuring that the PHF would not take any unconstitutional decision in the future, Bajwa vowed that each and every penny of the federation’s funds would only be used on the betterment of the game and players.

Bajwa admitted that rescuing Pakistan hockey was a demanding task but the former Olympian said he had accepted it as a massive challenge.

“Hockey has given many gold medals to Pakistan and I believe if the country gets any good news [from sports field] in future it would come from hockey.

“The hockey is in our blood and we have the potential to regain glory in this game. No one can imagine few years ago that Belgium will become world champions and Argentina will lift the Olympic title,” he said.

Commenting on PHF’s financial woes, Bajwa emphasised that the PHF would soon overcome the crisis with the government support, saying he would bridge the current gap between the federation and the government.

“Don’t worry about finances. Insha Allah the government will provide funds to the PHF as I will be bridge between the PHF and the government,” he said.

These words of Bajwa indirectly showed that he had been directly appointed by the federal government.

It may be mentioned that the PHF president and his previous secretary Shahbaz Senior have been requesting Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the PHF patron, to spare some time for hockey, but to no avail.

Commenting on people criticising his previous tenure as PHF secretary, Bajwa claimed that management wise it was one of the best periods.

“In almost six years of that period (2008-14) we received grants to the tune of Rs470 million and everyone knows that our coaches and selectors were paid [dues]. Furthermore our centrally-contracted national players were also getting sufficient amounts,” he said.

“Moreover, 18 academies were working across the country where paid coaches were appointed and their students were also getting Rs5,000 per month besides hockey equipment. We also won the 2010 Asian Games after two decades, besides a number of gold and silver medals at the Asian level,” Bajwa recalled.

Responding to a question on his predecessor Shahbaz Senior’s claim that even 100 coaches could not put the national team on right track, Bajwa said: “When under the leadership of Shahbaz Senior we were going to play the 1994 World Cup, our former Olympians had said that this team cannot even win a cup of tea, but we won the title.”

He avoided answering a question about Shahbaz Senior who has said that he did not tender resignation as secretary, as claimed by the PHF president last Saturday.

“Shahbaz Senior is the best person to answer this question,” Bajwa said.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2019