Disbandment of national academies destructive step: Former Pakistan Hockey Coach
Former national coach and legendry goalie of his era, Naveed Alam, fixed his guns on the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), criticising its decision of closing down the two national coaching academies working in Karachi and Lahore.
Numerous quarters expressed displeasure over the decision taken by the federation, through which it is aiming to replace the national academies with training centres in each of the 110 districts across the country.
Many former hockey players rejected the federation’s plan of dissolving the national academies, terming it a step to destroy the national sport.
Former hockey coach, Naveed Alam, stated that the move will harm the country’s hockey.
He observed, “The national academies were working for the benefit of Pakistan hockey. They were not only providing training to youngsters but were also giving them quality education”.
He was of the opinion that the federation is disbanding the coaching academies instead of expanding its circles to remote areas.
He commented, “There were plans to increase the number of players housed in the academies from 80 to 1,000, so that other age-groups could also be accommodated but those plans have been fruitless”.
However, the PHF not only defended its decision but also termed it fruitful for hockey.
PHF Academies’ Coordinator, Rana Mujahid, stated that the establishment of training centres in each of the districts across the country will serve the national sport in a better way.
In his view, it will be a good choice to train the players closer to their homes and families. He further elaborated on the project, saying that it will be a community-based academies’ model, which is new in the country.
The move to establish training centres was approved some two years ago, but only 14 such centres became operational thus far.
It is vital to mention here that a total of 80 under-16 players resided in the national academies at the time of their closure. The academies were also responsible to provide educational facilities to the players, besides polishing their game skills.
However, the substitute training centres will not provide them any education, which will also reduce the count of youngsters joining the centres.
The logic of the former players seems true in a sense that the national academies should continue their operations alongside the formation of new training centres across the country.
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