ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial (KPK) Hockey Association launches summer hockey camps across all districts of the province to identify and nurture young talent, with a strong focus on physical fitness and modern hockey techniques.
President KPK Hockey Syed Zahir Shah announced Thursday that camps would commence after June 10 in majority of provincial districts. However, keeping in view the sanctity of Muharram and local sensitivities in certain areas, district associations have been directed to begin their camps from June 29.
KPK Hockey President said that district-level camps are aimed at preparing young players for the demands of competitive hockey by improving their fitness, skills and understanding of modern-day hockey. “Fitness has become a fundamental requirement in international hockey. Only physically fit players can meet the challenges of the modern game and perform consistently at a high level,” he remarked.
According to Zahir Shah, players will undergo two to three hours of training daily. The programme will include physical conditioning, stick work, net practice, penalty corners, penalty strokes and modern technical drills designed to enhance overall performance.
The Provincial Hockey Association chief directed all district associations to conduct the camps in a professional manner to ensure that genuine talent is identified and developed. He added that the provincial association would closely monitor the programme and subsequently organize regular competitions in various age groups to provide emerging players with competitive opportunities.
Zahir Shah also appealed to the Regional Sports Officers (RSOs) and the Director General of the Sports Directorate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure the provision of essential hockey equipment, including sticks, balls and goalkeeper pads. He stressed that talented players should not suffer due to a lack of basic facilities.
Expressing concern over the allocation of sports funds, he claimed that in some cases substantial amounts were being approved for associations that had little connection with sporting activities, while genuine sports bodies continued to face shortages of equipment and resources.
Commenting on reports circulating on social media regarding the upcoming Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) training camp, Zahir Shah said no official confirmation had yet been received. However, he urged the PHF to consider talented players from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who had previously attended national camps but were later overlooked.
He specifically highlighted the performances of Daniyal, Ehsan, fullback Umar, halfback Sameer, left-in player and Bannu-based goalkeeper Ehtesham, describing them as highly talented and exceptionally fit players who deserved an opportunity to prove themselves at the national level.
“We request the President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to include these promising boys in the national camp so that they can showcase their abilities and contribute to Pakistan hockey in the future,” he said.
The provincial president further directed all district hockey associations to share their camp schedules with the Provincial Hockey Association to facilitate effective planning and coordination.
Concluding his remarks, Zahir Shah urged district officials and hockey organizers to discharge their responsibilities with dedication and commitment, emphasizing that collective efforts were essential for putting hockey in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a stronger footing and contributing to the revival of the national game.
