Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI: Over 1000 players showed their keen and reached the stadium from trials, which Lahore Qalandar started in Karachi on Friday.
According to an official, the registration started at 9 am and continued till the last minute of the trials. Due to the enthusiasm and large number of players,
Chief Executive Lahore Qalandars, Atif Rana said:
“The enthusiasm has surprised me, it wwill be unfair to the players not to extend it by one day, the enthusiasm and passion expressed by the secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation has been proved right by seeing the number of players here, after Karachi, Lahore, Open trials will also be held in Peshawar and Quetta. Like cricket, the mission to bring heroes ahead under the Qalandar Players Development Program”.
Provincial Labor and Labor Minister Sindh Saeed Ghani said:
“Lahore Qalandar, Federation and the government are doing their work, hockey is a sport for all of us, but unfortunately it has gone too far, but I am sure that like the Lahore Qalandar cricket, hockey will also flourish. The arrival of Shaheen Shah and his colleagues has encouraged the players associated with the national game. Sindh Government supports hockey. Sindh government is going to rebuild the Abdul Sattar Hockey Stadium”.
Secretary General PHF Haider Hussain said:
“I thank Lahore Qalandar and the Sindh government. Lahore Qalandar is the last ray of hope for the revival of hockey. Qalandar talent hunt program will be held in the city, I pray that the efforts of Lahore Qalandar and Atif Rana will pay off and once again the green crescent flag will be seen the hoist in the hockey field, provincial minister Saeed Ghani in bringing Lahore Qalandar to Karachi Sindh government has an important role, if the Sindh government does not give grant and does not support hockey, then maybe no one will even mention the name of hockey”.
The trials were supervised by the Chairman of the Selection Committee of Pakistan Hockey Federation Olympian Kaleemullah and other members Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shakeel Abbasi and Mohammad Naeem Khan is doing it himself.
The Lahore Qalandar team led by Shaheen Shah Afridi arrived at the KHA Sports Complex when the players gave them a warm welcome. The players described the arrival of the Lahore Qalandar team as a memorable moment for them.
On this occasion, Olympian Hanif Khan, KHA Patron General, and Vice President PHF Major General Retd. Test cricketer Sadiq Mohammad and other officials of KHA were also present
