ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a Rs 25 million cheque to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to help the national team prepare for the Asian Champions Trophy, which will be held in Chennai, India in August.
The cheque was presented to PHF Secretary General Haider Hussain by Director Finance and Audit PSB Faizan Janjua and Accounts Officer PSB Muhammad Akram Bhatti, with Olympians Kaleemullah, Hanif Khan, and Rahim Khan all present, according to a PHF press statement issued on Tuesday. Haider appreciated Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari and PSB Director General Shoaib Khoso for the Federation’s special grant.
Government Support for PHF
He said the minister informed him that if Pakistani players performed well, the government would totally support them. He said the minister was pleased with the performance of the national junior team at the recent Junior Asia Cup in Oman. He said that the PHF is working tirelessly to improve the national game and provide Pakistan with a strong international representation. Haider said that the recent outstanding performance of Pakistan juniors had been highly praised by both hockey fans and the Pakistani government.
Haider said that the players have been encouraged and are eager to perform. He said that the IPC minister was keen to see the Pakistan team performing well at the international level and wanted to improve the national game of hockey.
He said that all of Pakistan hockey’s previous successes were made possible by the Pakistani government’s financial support. He pointed out that without the financial support of the Pakistani government, the development of Pakistan hockey and participation in international events is difficult.
