Former Olympians start sit-in against hockey federation

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's former Olympians started a sit-in against the hockey federation of the country by terming its policies fatal for the future of the national team.

Dozens of protestors including former players and civilians led by four Olympians Naveed Alam, Mansoor Ahmad, Saleem Nazim and Mohammad Saglain on Tuesday gathered in front of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) head office in eastern city of Lahore.

They raised slogans against the PHF officials, alleging that they are responsible for the miserable performance of the national team in the recently concluded Azlan Shah Hockey Cup in Malaysia.

The protestors also demanded the removal of the incumbent management of the federation that has failed to deliver properly.

The former Olympian Alam announced that they would continue the protest for the next five days and would force the government to remove the responsible persons and appoint new body.

According to Alam, if the government does not take action to remove the PHF officials they would appeal in the Supreme Court as they have failed to do any better thing to lift the national team.

One of the PHF officials alleged that the Alam group had no sincerity for the betterment of the game but they only want to disturb team's preparations for the London Olympics.

Pakistani team that has been preparing for the London Olympics faced shock during Azlan Shah Cup where it could win only its first match against Argentina by 4 to 2 but was beaten in five successive matches by New Zealand (3-1), South Korea (4-0), Malaysia (3-2), India (2-1) and Britain (2-1).

After the national team stood at the last position in the mega event Pakistan's senior players criticized PHF and their egoistic and poor decisions in the Olympics year.

Pakistan's former golden player Manzoor Junior commenting on the situation said "I am very disappointed with the team performance that showed the true face of the squad to the hockey lovers and fans who want to see Pakistan regaining lost glory in hockey."

These days, the Pakistani team has been on European tour to play some practice matches to get prepared for the upcoming London Olympics.

Pakistan team and its management are also facing criticism in media and public after losing its first match of the European tour against Belgium by 6-1.