Pakistan hockey looks to garner support of FIH boss

KARACHI:
Pakistani officials are confident that Leandro Negre, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) chief, will support their campaign for the return of international hockey to the country following his high-profile visit of Pakistan next week.
The FIH president will meet top dignitaries including President Asif Ali Zardari during his five-day visit that will begin on October 13.
Negre, a Spaniard who took over as FIH president last year, is coming here on a special invitation of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which is hoping to win his support for a comprehensive campaign that is aimed at reviving Pakistan hockey's lost glory.
Sources in the PHF told 'The News' on Friday that if Negre is convinced that Pakistan is a safe destination for international hockey games, then their chances of hosting a major tournament as early as next year will become quite bright.
National hockey officials believe that one of the key steps needed to revive the national game is to ensure that top teams visit the country and play bilateral matches and major events like the elite six-nation Champions Trophy here.
Pakistan, which was once regarded as a major destination on the world hockey circuit, last hosted a major event in 2004 when it staged the Champions Trophy in Lahore. Since then, international hockey teams have stayed away from the country because of security apprehensions.
The FIH was forced to shift the 2007 Champions Trophy from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur after some of the teams refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the tournament.
In the past, top FIH officials have not been supportive of Pakistan but PHF chiefs are confident that Negre has a soft corner for Pakistan hockey.
Qasim Zia, the PHF president and secretary Asif Bajwa were present at the FIH Congress in Los Angeles last November where Negre defeated former FIH chief Els van Breda to become the new president. Pakistan were one of the biggest supporters of the Negre campaign. Since then, a lot of efforts have been made to convince Negre that without bringing Pakistan back in the mainstream, international hockey cannot flourish.
Negre's Pakistan visit is another vital step in that direction. Negre will know how much the Pakistani government is backing the PHF campaign by the sort of protocol he will get in Islamabad and Lahore.
He will be a state guest and will have a meeting with Zardar on October 14. The very next day, he will inaugurate the inaugural Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Hockey Tournament in Islamabad.
Negre will then go to Lahore and will have lunch with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif followed by tea with Governor Salman Taseer on the same day. He will also meet with Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani and Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) chief Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hassan.
He will get comprehensive briefings from senior officials of the Interior Ministry that are aimed at convincing the FIH chief that Pakistan can offer secure facilities for international hockey tournaments.
Just a day before heading back home, Negre will hold a crucial meeting with top PHF officials. It is expected that the FIH chief will make important announcements after that meeting.
"His (Negre's) visit can really benefit Pakistan hockey," said a PHF official, who requested anonymity. "The idea behind inviting him is to bridge what was a widening gap between Pakistan and FIH and to garner his support for us," he added.