Karachi, July 23 (Inditop.com) Pakistan hockey is in turmoil again, nine months after a bunch of Olympians took over the reins of the national federation from former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
The country’s parliamentarians have summoned Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa July 30 after several episodes of mud-slinging between a few Olympians and the PHF top brass resulted in life bans on two former players.
Qasim Zia, a member of the team that won the Olympic gold in 1984 in Los Angeles, was installed the new PHF chief after former players joined hands to topple Jamali, from the post of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president last year.
Zia’s induction was heralded as the beginning of a new era in Pakistan hockey. However, things haven’t gone according to plan. Cracks began to appear within the national hockey community when a few Olympians alleged that Bajwa has started to run a one-man show in the PHF.
Himself an Olympian, Bajwa was also accused of abusing his powers as PHF secretary by Mansoor Ahmed, a former Pakistan goalkeeper and the hero of Pakistan successful World Cup campaign in 1994 in Sydney.
The row took an ugly turn when Mansoor, a former captain and former national team coach Naveed Alam were handed life bans by the PHF last week.
The PHF executive board found Alam guilty of misappropriating Rs.2.5 million ($31,000) when he was Pakistan manager and coach last year.
Mansoor was charged with posing as a federation official to obtain visas from the United States embassy for a private team.
Alam has denied the allegations while Ahmed has declined to comment. Both said they would contest the bans in court.
Critics have said that the duo was targeted by the PHF after it launched scathing attacks against the performance of the PHF top brass in recent times. Now a number of Olympians have stood up in favour of Alam and Mansoor.
Olympian Qamar Zia recently termed as unconstitutional the PHF’s decision to ban Mansoor and Alam for life.
Legendary hockey player Samiullah has asked the PHF not to indulge in controversies and do their work properly, which would automatically shut the mouths of the critics.
“I would say that the federation should not fall in controversies. If they would focus on their work and give results – the mouths of the critics would automatically be sealed,” Samiullah said.
rounak