KARACHI, April 18: Once a hub of activity, Karachi’s neglected Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP), now depicts a true picture of apathy waiting to get a fresh lease of life.

A visit to country’s one of major hockey centres, showed the shabby Astroturf needs prompt attention if the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is serious to revive international activity at the venue.

The pitch lays in tatters, having several patches, especially near the penalty corner spot and the goal area. Quite a few players were seen tripping, suffering injuries at last month’s national championship inter-provincial qualifiers because of worn-out surface.

It is incomprehensible why PHF chose to organize the qualifying round at HCP since the tournament could have been played at an alternate venue either in Karachi or in any other city.

While the Lahore-based PHF secretariat misses no opportunity of blowing its own trumpet, it is yet to fulfil the promise of replacing the rundown HCP pitch.

The HCP, which had played host to six out of 11 Champions Trophy editions Pakistan organized, is still in a shambles, despite the venue is among the five selected for new turfs.

According to reports, the government had sanctioned Rs160million grant for the Astroturfs after President Pervez Musharraf announced on Jan 24, 2001, that new pitches would be installed at five centres — Karachi, Peshawar, Sialkot, Abbotabad, and Bahawalpur.

The task at HCP and Peshawar, is easier since the venues have base and no civil work is needed as compared to remaining three where the engineers would have to start from scratch.

Albeit the Karachi-based PHF administrator, who also manages the HCP, had claimed at least twice the venue would get a new turf soon, stadium still has a dilapidated surface.

Ironically, the official has an office at the HCP which has also hosted the inaugural Asia Cup in 1982 besides international tournaments. One of the matches of the Pakistan-India series in 1999 was the last international activity HCP saw at its surface.

It is not only the Astroturf that needs to be replaced. The wear and tear of the stadium also demands repairs. Even the bricks of the stadium walls of spectators stands have fallen and it seems the structure may crumble anytime.

Having an approximate seating capacity of 30,000, the HCP, whose foundation was laid by Gen Musa Khan on Dec 19, 1963, must have about 3,000 chairs, most of them broken and stinking with birds droppings.

The HCP was even converted into a makeshift open air musical show venue last year, allowing organizers to hold concerts. The idea was to generate funds exclusively for HCP’s renovation. Sadly, HCP’s edifice, that now gives a haunted look, is still an example of disregard.

Some tenants of the shops built around the HCP paying a rent of Rs7,000 to Rs8,000 for the last few months are now being demanded about Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 monthly.

Hockey, the so-called national sport, apparently got a shot in the arm when Gen Musharraf announced Rs20million special aid last year for the promotion of the game.

But the question is, is there any accountability, transparency and where the money is being spent?