KARACHI: The Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) Sports Complex has been transformed into a sports paradise in the heart of the city, focusing on grassroots-level development in disciplines popular among the young generation, including hockey-5, futsal, padel, cricket, and athletics.
A 32-room hostel for visiting teams from outside Karachi has also been developed, a survey conducted by The News revealed. It is worth mentioning that an astro turf has already been laid at the KHA Sports Complex, along with an electronic scoreboard.
However, a piece of barren land had remained unused since it was allotted to KHA, often becoming a site for accumulated rainwater or being unofficially used for marriage ceremonies and other gatherings.
That same land has now been transformed into a sports hub named “KHA Legends Arena.” Facilities for padel, hockey 5s, futsal, a tartan track, and synthetic cricket turfs are now available for playing, practice, and organizing events.
Four padel courts have been established, allowing up to 16 players to play simultaneously, with the facility being offered at an affordable cost. Developing this sports hub was not an easy task. Former PHF secretary Haider Hussain, who is currently Joint Secretary of KHA, played a key role, along with MNA Shehla Raza, President of the Sindh Women Hockey Association.
Both contributed significantly to transforming the venue into a vibrant sports hub for children and the younger generation in a healthy environment.
Sources said that MNA Shehla Raza played an important role in developing this state-of-the-art sports complex in the heart of the city. Shehla Raza said the KHA sports complex’s empty land had been lying unused for a long time, and its best possible use is for the promotion of sports.
She added that state-of-the-art synthetic turf facilities for multiple sports have been developed side by side under floodlights. The KHA Sports Complex is located in Gulshan-e-Iqbal off the University Road.
Shehla further said that all synthetic turfs required for hockey 5s, futsal, and padel, Cricket pitches, as well as the tartan track, have been imported from the UK. She also acknowledged the support of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Provincial Sports Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar for helping turn the project into a reality.
Shehla urged parents and heads of educational institutions to encourage children to participate in sports activities instead of remaining constantly engaged with smartphones.
She noted that various health issues are increasing among children and young people due to a lack of physical activity and distance from a natural lifestyle. She said the KHA Legend Arena offers a place where they can play their favorite sports, improve their health, and adopt regular physical exercise, helping them avoid serious ailments.
Haider Hussain said the facility has been developed for sports that are rapidly gaining popularity among young athletes. He emphasized that the KHA Legend Arena has not been developed with commercial interests in mind, and only minimal charges will be taken from sports associations, private organizations, and players for using the facilities and organizing events.
He stated that hockey players will not be charged any fee. They will be able to play hockey free of cost and also use facilities of other sports. Haider Hussain also pointed out that the KHA Sports Complex is unique in that no shops, offices, warehouses, tea stalls, or hotels have been established within or around the premises. The facility is dedicated solely to sports promotion and providing subsidized access to athletes in a disciplined environment.
He added that a few more sporting facilities are also being considered and will be announced in due course. Haider Hussain expressed hope that the KHA Legend Arena will likely be inaugurated in the first or second week of May.
He added that the project would not have been possible without the full support of the Sindh government, the provincial sports ministry, and Imtiaz Ali Shah, who was serving as provincial Sports Secretary when the project received approval and funding.
He further said that Olympian Hanif Khan will provide hockey training and coaching to the players and will also help organize hockey events at the venue. Haider Hussain was of view that in near future the place Karachi Legend Arena one of the best place for organizing domestic Hockey 5, Pedal, and Futsal events on regular basis, as organizes of these events approaching the administration of Arena.
