News for 14 January 2018
All the news for Sunday 14 January 2018
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KAZ v PAK 6 - 0
SGP v TPE 0 - 2
THA v INA 7 - 0
Standings
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Thailand |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| 2 |  Chinese Taipei |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 |  Kazakhstan |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| 4 |  Hong Kong China |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 5 |  Singapore |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 6 |  Pakistan |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | -9 | 0 |
| 7 |  Indonesia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | -10 | 0 |
2018 EuroHockey Indoor Championships (M)
The Results and standings from day 2 of all three Championships are listed below
2018 EuroHockey Indoor Championship (M)
Antwerp (BEL)
Pool A GER v DEN 7 - 1 (4 - 1)
Pool A CZE v POL 2 - 3 (0 - 2)
Pool C, Pool B SUI v RUS 3 - 4 (1 - 3)
Pool B AUT v BEL 3 - 3 (3 - 2)
Pool C DEN v SUI 3 - 6 (3 - 2)
Pool C CZE v RUS 4 - 3 (1 - 3)
SF1 BEL v POL 7 - 3 (3 - 0)
SF2 GER v AUT 2 - 2 (2 - 2) (3 - 4 SO)
Standings
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Germany |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 20 | 9 |
| 2 |  Poland |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 |  Czech Republic |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 |  Denmark |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 26 | -21 | 0 |
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Belgium |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| 2 |  Austria |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 3 |  Russia |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 4 |
| 4 |  Switzerland |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 | -7 | 0 |
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Czech Republic |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 6 |
| 2 | Switzerland |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Russia |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Denmark |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 15 | -11 | 0 |
2018 EuroHockey Indoor Championship II (M)
Alanya (TUR)
Pool D, Pool B SWE v CRO 6 - 5 (3 - 3)
Pool C, Pool B ITA v ENG 3 - 2 (1 - 1)
Pool A POR v UKR 5 - 6 (3 - 1)
Pool A NED v TUR 6 - 0 (3 - 0)
Pool C TUR v ENG 3 - 3 (1 - 0)
Pool C POR v ITA 2 - 2 (0 - 1)
Pool D UKR v SWE 7 - 5 (5 - 0)
Pool D NED v CRO 3 - 1 (2 - 0)
Standings
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Netherlands |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 9 |
| 2 |  Ukraine |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 4 |
| 3 |  Portugal |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 |  Turkey |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 1 |
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Croatia |
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 |  Sweden |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 |  Italy |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 |  England |
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 1 |
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | Italy |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | England |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 1 |
| 4 | Turkey |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 1 |
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | Sweden |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 3 |
| 3 | Ukraine |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 3 |
| 4 | Croatia |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 0 |
2018 EuroHockey Indoor Championship III (M)
Nicosia (CYP)
Pool A SCO v SVK 4 - 5 (1 - 3)
Pool A SLO v BLR 1 - 12 (0 - 5)
Pool A CYP v GRE 4 - 0 (1 - 0)
Pool A SVK v WAL 4 - 4 (2 - 3)
Pool A SCO v BLR 1 - 3 (1 - 1)
Pool A SLO v GRE 6 - 1 (4 - 0)
Pool A WAL v CYP 14 - 0 (8 - 0)
Standings
| Rank | Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Belarus |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 4 | 32 | 12 |
| 2 |  Slovakia |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 3 |  Scotland |
5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 9 | 34 | 9 |
| 4 |  Wales |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 5 |
| 5 |  Slovenia |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 32 | -23 | 4 |
| 6 |  Cyprus |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 42 | -37 | 3 |
| 7 |  Greece |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 28 | -26 | 0 |
Belgium and Austria set up surprise Euro Indoor Nations final
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Belgium are guaranteed at least an equal best ever finish in the EuroHockey Indoor Championship as they set up a surprise final line-up with Austria in Antwerp.
The Belgians’ previous best finish in the competition came in Arnhem in 1976 and will hope to go one better on Sunday. They topped their group with wins over Russia (5-1) and Switzerland (2-1) before drawing with Austria 3-3 to go through to the semi-finals.
In the final four against Poland, they raced into a 3-0 half-time lead with Gaetan Dykmans, Max Plennevaux and Tanguy Zimmer on the mark.
They also scored the next three with Zimmer, Plennevaux and Pierre Louis Maraite to put the Belgians in dreamland. The Poles got three back but were never in the tie, falling 7-3.
Austria, meanwhile, won a shoot-out against Germany. They had led 2-0 when Michael Korper and Patrick Schmidt scored but the Germans were level before half-time courtesy of Hannes Muller and Jesper Kamlade.
No second half goals meant a shoot-out was required and then sudden death which went on into an eighth round. There, Fabian Unterkircher eventually spun around Alexander Stadler to score the winning shoot-out and send them through to the final.
They will be hoping to win their second European title following their victory in Almere in 2010.
Euro Hockey League media release
A tough day for Scotland in Nicosia
It was a tough day for Scotland at men’s Indoor EuroHockey Championship III in Nicosia. Defeats to Slovakia and Belarus leaves Scotland in third place four points behind Slovakia, and six points behind Belarus.
Scotland has won two matches, lost two, and face Slovenia and Wales tomorrow as the tournament reaches its climax.
Scotland 4-5 Slovakia
A close and exciting game went in Slovakia’s favour as Scotland fell to their first defeat at Men’s Indoor EuroHockey Championship III in Nicosia.
It was Slovakia who took the early lead with a strike by Romanec Tomas from a penalty corner in two minutes.
Slovakia doubled their lead on nine minutes when Zdenko Kovacevic struck to put some light between the teams.
The Scots struck back a couple of minutes later and it was the free-scoring Patch Christie who was on target to pull the score back to 2-1.
Just as the Scots thought they were going into half time a goal shy of their opponents, Slovakia made it 3-1. Right before the half time whistle Matej Jelacic was on target to give his team the advantage.
Scotland came out strong in the second half and Josh Cairns finished off a penalty corner on 26 minutes to make it 3-2 to Slovakia.
Ten minutes later and Christie bagged his second of the match to equalise for the Scots.
A late flurry of goals saw the game go in Slovakia’s favour. Romanec scored his second of the match then in the last minute Kovacevic completed his double for Slovakia. Cairns struck for Scotland right at the death but there was not enough time for Scotland to find an equaliser, and Slovakia took the points.
Head Coach Stuart Neave said, “We’re disappointed with the result. During the first ten minutes we gave them a two-goal lead through a couple of errors and we had to work our way back into the game. There were a lot of cards in the game, which were debatable, so we had to play a lot of the match a man down.
“It’s still in our own hands and it certainly makes tonight’s match more interesting.”
Scotland 1-3 Belarus
Scotland’s second game of the day was a tough game against Belarus, and it was the Belarussians who took the spoils. It was a match Scotland wanted to win as a defeat left the Scots in third place four points shy of Slovakia, and six points behind Belarus at the top of the table.
It was a very tight first half regardless of Belarus taking an early lead in Nicosia. Uladzislau Belavusau opened the scoring in the first minute of the match with a strike from open play. It was not the start Scotland had hoped for.
On the 18th minute Scotland equalised and it was Gordon Amour who provided the finish.
Soon after the equaliser a yellow card was awarded to Josh Cairns but Scotland was resolute and Belarus couldn’t take advantage of the extra man.
The second half got underway and continued to be a close and tense affair.
There was a second half yellow card for Ivan Kisialevich of Belarus but Scotland could not take advantage. The teams remained at stalemate as the contest roared on.
Eventually it was Belarus who struck next and Ivan Lutsevich was the scorer from a penalty corner with three minutes remaining.
The goal prompted Scotland to go to a kicking back in search of a much needed equaliser in the closing stages.
Belarus took a timeout with a minute remaining under waves of Scottish attacks, and just after the restart it was the Belarussians who put the game to bed when Uladzislau struck to make the game 3-1.
Fixtures
12 Jan 2018
11:10 (09:10) – Cyprus 1-13 Scotland
18:10 (14:10) – Greece 0-14 Scotland
13 Jan 2018
10:00 (8:00) – Scotland 4-5 Slovakia
17:00 (13:00) – Scotland 1-3 Belarus
14 Jan 2018
08:00 (06:00) – Scotland v Slovenia
12:40 (10:40) – Scotland v Wales
Scottish Hockey Union media release
KLHC won’t let two title wins get to their heads
By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) coach Lim Chiow Chuan wants his players to stay grounded despite winning two titles in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) within a week.
Chiow Chuan does not want the double victories to get to his players’ heads.
KLHC enjoyed a fantastic week when they bagged the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup on Sunday and the Charity Shield on Friday.
They defeated the same opponents – Terengganu – in penalty shootouts to win both titles.
The vastly experienced Chiow Chuan said the journey had just begun for the team.
“We have tough matches lined up every week and there’s no room for complacency. We have won titles but our performances are still not up to the mark,” said Chiow Chuan.
“This team can play better and it’s a matter of each player pulling his weight and contributing.”
The Star of Malaysia
Youthful Thunderbolt make it loud and clear they’re dangerous
KUALA LUMPUR: They’re young but dangerous.
And TNB-Thunderbolt’s rivals better beware after the youthful side upstaged former champions Maybank in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) on Friday.
Thunderbolt pulled off a stunning win, coming back from a goal down to edge the Tigers – led by six foreigners – 2-1 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Last year, the team – also made up of students – raised eyebrows by thrashing Maybank 7-3 in the MHL.
Thunderbolt coach Mohd Amin Rahim was full of praises for his players, whose average age is only 19.
“My boys have proven that last year’s big win was not a fluke. They’ve also showed they are no pushovers,” said Amin.
“It was a good start for us in the league and I want my players to keep the momentum going.”
Thunderbolt, featuring in the Premier Division for the se-cond season, face favourites Terengganu at the Batu Buruk Stadium in Kuala Terengganu today.
Thunderbolt played Terengganu in the semi-finals of the Tan Sri P. Alagendra Cup last week and went down fighting 3-1.
Terengganu are banking on the world’s top penalty corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat of Argentina to deliver the goals.
Amin said his players can’t afford to give away penalty corners as Peillat hasproven to be almost immaculate in his executions.
“It’ll be a big challenge to stop him from scoring,” said Amin, who was himself a penalty corner specialist during his international playing career with Malaysia.
“We gave Terengganu a good fight at the Alagendra Cup and I want my boys to play much better tomorrow. I have faith in them,” said Amin.
The Star of Malaysia
Champions again: Near-perfect Kenya Police recapture hockey title
By BRIAN YONGA
Kenya Police players celebrate at the end of their Kenya Hockey Union Premier League match against Kenyatta University after which they were crowned the league champions on January 13, 2017 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya Police on Saturday clinched the Kenya Hockey Union men's Premier League in style after a 6-1 rout of Kenyatta University (KU) Vultures at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.
The win sealed Police's first title since 2013 and their second in the club's history. The result took their tally to the season to 73 points with two matches left.
The final whistle drew wild celebrations from the Police players and their technical bench to what has been an emphatic season which has seen them win 24 matches, lost one and drawn another.
An elated Police coach Kenneth Kaunda hugged his players and applauded his technical bench. Kaunda missed the better part of the first leg due to illness but returned to oversee an impressive campaign.
"I am so happy for my players, this is a great achievement. We have been the best team this season and it is only right that we are crowned champions," Kaunda told Nation Sport.
"We have had heartbreaks over the past few years and at times fell short but finally we have captured the title and the team should be proud of its achievements," Kaunda added.
Police needed only two minutes to go ahead as international Willis Okeyo finished off Oliver Echenje's dragged short corner past Vultures keeper Dennis Barasa.
The goal stunned the students and they went all out in search of the equaliser but their attacks were thwarted by a steel wall Police defence.
The law enforcers doubled their lead five minutes into the second quarter after top scorer Amos Barkibir finished off another short corner. Four minutes later, veteran striker Moses Cheplaiti made it 3-0 from the team's third short corner of the match.
Police continued their onslaught in the third quarter and international Samuel Wokila made it four through a brilliant field goal. Vultures lacked ideas going forward and their ruthless opponents would pick them out on the counter attack in the 40th minute through Calvins Kanu's superb chip.
Samoan Kibirir scored the sixth goal eight minutes to the end to cap off a resounding result for his side. The students scored a last minute consolation goal through Samuel Maina.
The students, who are in danger of relegation, remain second from bottom with 22 points. Police can improve on their tally with a win against Wazalendo on Sunday at the same venue.
Telkom are poised to win the women's Premier League on Sunday when they take on Multimedia University. They need a point to win a record 20th title.
In a women's Premier League match on Saturday, Strathmore University Scorpions enhanced their chances of finishing second after they beat KU Titans 4-0 at the City Park Stadium. A brace from Gilly Okumu and a goal each from Lucy Wanjiku and Carol Njoki sealed the win.
Daily Nation
Red hot police reclaim title: Cops march on to KHU crown with matches to spare
Police lock-up Vultures to reclaim league title; Law enforcers teach varsity students hockey lessons.
By Elizabeth Mburugu
Kenya Police celebrate after winning this season with many goals. (Jenipher Wachie,Standard)
Kenya Police are the new Kenya Hockey Union men’s Premier League champions.
Yesterday, on-form police trounced Kenyatta University (KU) Vultures 6-1 to reclaim the title they last won in 2013.
While well set to end a three-year trophy drought, the law enforcers’ victory had been long coming. Their playing tactics and strategies worked out as they took the lead on the league standings from the onset.
Their smooth run was, however, slowed down by a 1-0 loss away to Western Jaguars delaying their victory party but they kept pushing and eventually accomplished their mission with two matches in hand.
Oliver Echenje, the police captain, was over the moon saying hard work paid dividends.
“Our approach to the league was focused on a victory at a time, but we never lost sight of our main objective of winning the league title.
“Credit goes to every member of the team because it is through individual effort combined with team work that resulted in success,” Echenje said.
He said even though they already won the league title, they are still determined to end the season on a high. “We still have two matches and we want to win so we can end the season well. Having won the title already does not mean that we now have to be complacent,” Echenje said.
Police will play Wazalendo today then later they will take on former champions Butali Sugar Warriors in the last match of the 2017 season.
Against Vultures, the red-hot Police did not leave anything to chance as they sought to secure the trophy.
International Willis Okeyo revealed their intentions in the match putting them in the lead two minutes into play after successfully converting a penalty corner.
The students then tightened their defence resisting Police efforts of adding a second goal. The law enforcers had all their units in fine form dominating all aspects of the game. However, the Vultures stopped their attempts of adding more goals for the first quarter to end with Police leading by a solitary goal.
Police intensified their goal hunt in the second quarter as the attacking trio of Amos Barkibir, Calvins Kanu and Moses Cheplaiti surged deep into the students’ territory but were kept at bay.
The Standard Online
KHU chief Nahashion Randiek retains seat
By BRIAN YONGA
Kenya Hockey Union chairman Nashon Randiek. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenya Hockey Union president Nahashion Randiek Saturday evening retained his seat as Mike Malungu and Elyna Shiveka were voted in as first and second vice presidents respectively.
Randiek floored his only opponent Inderjit Matharu in Saturday's polls at the Parklands Sports Club.
Randiek got 12 votes against Matharu's five votes to retain his seat for another four years.
Malungu and Shiveka were voted as first and second vice president respectively.
Journalists were barred from covering the polls.
Daily Nation
PR Sreejesh battles for spot in Indian hockey team after injury lay-off
Rohit Paniker
PR Sreejesh clicks a photograph along with the Indian hockey team
The last time PR Sreejesh donned the national team jersey, coach Sjoerd Marijne was preparing the women's hockey team for five-match Test series in New Zealand.
His deputies Akash Chitke and Suraj Karkera had just arrived in the squad and were eager to get an opportunity to play. That was eight months ago.
Fast forward to 2018 and Marijne is now coach of men's team, while Akash and Suraj have cemented their place with impressive runs in the Asia Cup and Hockey World League Finals.
It has been a tough eight months for Sreejesh, recovering from a knee injury he sustained during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and what makes it even tougher for the 29-year-old goalkeeper is the fact that he now has to fight for his place back in the starting line-up.
Sreejesh is looking forward to his comeback at the four-national tournament in New Zealand, starting January 17, but he is also aware of the ground realities.
"It's good to be back in the squad. I think a lot has changed since I played for India and I had gone through a lot of struggles. Now, it's time to perform. It is a test period for me, to see where I stand and where I need to improve," Sreejesh told Mail Today.
Banking on his vast experience between the goalposts, he added: "I hope my experience will help me perform. First I need to prove myself that I am ready to take on the challenge in New Zealand before eyeing the major events. The goalkeepers did really well. We could see their inexperience in some places but they raised the bar for me and I can see the potential in them. I relish a fight for the playing spot as the healthy competition will help me to improve."
The anterior crucial ligament injury Sreejesh carried on his right knee needed surgery and months of rehabilitation, before the Kerala ace joined the national camp formally in September last year.
Speaking on his prolonged time on the sidelines, Srejeesh recalled the challenges and negativity that surrounded him while the only thought that kept him going was of wearing the national colours one more time.
"I never had such a big break in my career. Getting a knee injury at times can end a player's career but I promised myself I will wear the national jersey again. Every day I did my work, I limped, I tried to walk, all I had in mind is the jersey. There is a lot of negativity surrounding you during that period.
"Everyone kept telling me I got the injury at the wrong time but frankly, the injury has changed me as a
person. I changed myself as a new Sreejesh. When I came to the national camp, I wore my pads to get the feel. I started to kick the ball, then stood in the pole and it felt positive. Since then, I am just focusing on making myself better than before," he said.
India Today
Former Olympians flay PHF for hockey decline, financial wrongdoings
LAHORE: Former Olympians Manzoor Junior, Khawaja Junaid Ahmad, Khalid Bashir and Salim Nazim have slammed the president and secretary general of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for national team’s pathetic performance in recent years as well as the financial irregularities allegedly committed by the duo. During a joint press conference held here the other day, the ex-national hockey players also announced that on their appeal, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (r) Javed Iqbal had taken the notice of the alleged financial irregularities. Manzoor, at the presser, also lashed out at other ex-Olympians Islahuddin Siddiqui, Hassan Sardar and Shahbaz Senior for what he termed their incompetence in handling Pakistan hockey affairs.
“Islahuddin is not a doctor of hockey, rather he is just a compounder, though he is a good human being,” Manzoor said. “During the last 35 years or so, Islahuddin has remained active in different PHF roles, and after every failure of Pakistan team he has come back again. But what are his achievements?” Manzoor asked. Flaying Hassan Sardar, Manzoor said he had no talent to pick the best team yet he was associated with the PHF as chief selector despite his selected squad hit rock bottom at the 2010 World Cup. “Hassan does not possess sound judgement about a player`s actual talent. Whereas I, by the grace of God, can easily predict about a spot where a player can best demonstrate his hockey skills,” claimed Manzoor. He also pointed out that the performance of the national team in 2017 had disappointed him a lot because arch-rivals India during the year registered seven big wins against Pakistan, which was a record. “Pakistan on several occasions in the past secured huge victories against India on their home soil but what is happening to Pakistan now,” he wondered.
“Our hockey has descended to the last stage of destruction as we have not seized any major hockey title for around 23 years. And during the last four years, the situation has become even worse as Pakistan since 2014 have not featured in any major international hockey event (World Cup, Olympics) except for the 2014 Champions Trophy where we reached the final after many years,” Manzoor recalled. Unfortunately, Manzoor rued, the PHF did not have the guts to carry out the postmortem of the seven defeats Pakistan suffered at the hands of India during 2017. “And even Japan, ranked 15th, overpowered Pakistan twice for the first time during the same year. Had the current PHF management been sincere with Pakistan hockey and not with their vested interests, the national team would not have produced this kind of poor performance in international contests,” Manzoor lamented while questioning the logic behind PHF’s entire focus on sending national senior and junior teams to Australia.
Expressing his views on the occasion, Khalid claimed that unfortunately the PHF president during the last congress meeting had protected his secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior in his wrongdoings. Terming the alleged withdrawal of cash to the tune of Rs240 million from PHF accounts a serious matter, Khalid said the secretary should be nabbed over the issue. He further claimed that when he raised the matter of financial irregularities in the federation backed by evidence at the congress meeting, the PHF president threatened him (Khalid) with a criminal case instead of taking action against Shahbaz. “This means both the PHF president and secretary are involved in corruption,” Khalid maintained while adding that “still we can talk with the PHF president if he minuses Shahbaz.” He thanked the NAB chairman for accepting a reference regarding financial irregularities in the PHF.
Meanwhile, Salim Nazim said the last congress meeting was invalid because no audit statements, budget or the minutes of the last meeting were approved during that meeting. He underlined that out of the total 104 members only 52 percent were present in that congress meeting, noting many were not invited by the PHF, who “feared great opposition from the house.” Salim said on a query the PHF president said the federation’s accounts were audited by Punjab Minerals Corporation auditors, but, he added, Khokhar was the head of that organisation. “The hidden agenda of the incumbent PHP body is only corruption.” Khawaja Junaid, who was axed as head coach by the PHF president after national team’s poor show at the 2017 World Hockey League in London, reckoned the way he was dismissed was not honourable. First you verbally promise a coaching post for a longer period but then after one bad tour you kick them out; this is not good,” Junaid said. “Please give respect to the Olympians, both at the time of hiring and axing.”
The Daily Times