PHF to facilitate develop Afghan hockey

The Pakistan Hockey Federation will be providing technical and training facility to the Afghanistan hockey to lift the game in the neighbouring country.

The PHF and the representatives Afghanistan Hockey Federations signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation has offered several facilities to the Afghanistan Hockey Federation.

According to an agreement The PHF will be offering provision of technical assistance in restructuring and reformation of game of hockey in Afghanistan on modern scientific lines.

The PHF will also be donating 100 hockey sticks and 100 hockey balls to the AHF every year.

And ensure participation of the Afghanistan hockey teams (U-16, Whites & Colours) in the Domestic events of Pakistan Hockey Federation.

‘It is a historic day in history of Afghan hockey that PHF will be providing them support to re-organise the game in our war-torn country ‘,said Secretary,AHF,Mir Wais Bahawi at a news conference along with Secretary, PHF,MohammadAsif Bajwa after MOU signing ceremony here at national hockey stadium.

He said the game of hockey is not new to Afghanistan which participated in 1936 and 1940 Olympics and now they have started efforts with a renewed zeal to make it a game of masses in Afghanistan.

‘The passion for hockey is every-growing and youth is taking keen interest to take up hockey as a sport and we have around 600 registered hockey players ‘,saidAHF official.

‘Pakistan has a glorious past in the game and its guidance to help reorganise the game will play a paramount role in the overall development of the game in Afghanistan ‘,said AHF Secretary.

‘We are going through a tough time in the prevailing circumstances and Pakistan is the first country to support the cause of Afghan hockey for which we are very thankful to them ’,he added.

Secretary,PHF,Asif Bajwa said that PHF will bear the expense of training of three Afghan team every year in Pakistan. ‘ We will be inviting their national team and two junior teams to undergo two week training every year in Pakistan ‘,he added.

‘We will also welcome the participation of Afghan U1, Whites and Colour in our domestic event ‘,he added.

He said PHF is supporting the cause of hockey whenever and wherever its services were needed and they have signed an MOU with the Afghan hockey as a part of its development plan which was in line with the game development of international hockey federation.’ Our hockey academies have become role model in hockey playing countries and we will be introducing the same system in Afghanistan to organise the game on scientific lines’, said PHF official.

To a question he said PHF will consider the request of AHF to send its coaches to Afghanistan for imparting training when such a stage comes In due course of time.

Bajwasaid he was confident that in next five to six years Afghan hockey will be on right track of progress with the cooperation of PHF.

AHFSecretary said the Afghan youth were playing hockey on grassy fields or concrete surfaces and they are trying to lay synthetic turf to provide training their players on modern lines.