Former Pak hockey players, Olympians launch ‘save hockey’ campaign

Karachi: Over 90 former Pakistan Olympians and internationals hockey players have launched a ‘save hockey’ campaign following the Pakistan team’s dismal performance in the World Cup in New Delhi.

“We cannot allow our national game to fall to such depths. We have had bad performances in the past, but never like this. There was no team spirit or management visible in the World Cup,” The News quoted Ayaz Mehmood, member of the 1984 Los Angles gold medal winning Olympic team, as saying.

They are also demanding the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Qasim Zia to remove federation secretary Asif Bajwa from the post, saying that hockey is facing miserable situation due to his poor strategies.

Addressing the media, former player and Olympian Islahuddin Siddique said: “We demand that the President of the federation Qasim Zia to immediately sack Bajwa because he held total powers in the federation and team and had taken on dual roles of secretary and chief coach/manager.”

“When Bajwa enjoys complete power, he must take complete responsibility for the debacle in the World Cup as well. He is responsible for our worst ever performance at the top level,” Siddique added.

Meanwhile, former secretary of the federation Akhtar-ul-Islam said that they Zia to remove Bajwa in three days time.

“If he does not do that, we will launch a countrywide campaign against Bajwa and the federation and also meet with the President and Prime Minister to inform them of what is happening,” he said.