By Bilal Ahmed
Pakistan Hockey Federation’s Revival Efforts
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is undertaking a significant revival effort, marked by the recent visit of the South Korean team to Pakistan for a bilateral series. This marks the first visit by an international side for a bilateral series in nearly 20 years. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, the ad-hoc president of the PHF, assumed his role in February 2026 following administrative changes initiated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Upon taking charge, Wani reported that the PHF’s accounts held a modest amount of two million PKR. Through collaborations with government and private sector sponsors, the federation’s funds have reportedly increased to 400 million PKR. These funds are designated for player training and travel, with Wani stating that no federation officials, including himself, would use these funds for foreign tours.
Strategic Appointments and International Exposure
A key aspect of the revival strategy involves integrating former Olympians into leadership roles within the PHF. Individuals such as Islahuddin Siddiqui and Hasan Sardar co-chair the PHF’s Development and Professional Advisory Committee. Samiullah Khan has been appointed chief selector, while Manzoorul Hasan serves as head coach for the senior national team. Other former players, including Khawaja Junaid, Ayaz Mahmood, and Qamar Ibrahim, are also involved in coaching various national teams.
Further strengthening the coaching setup, the PHF recently engaged a foreign coaching panel. This panel includes Herman Kruis from the Netherlands as the Overall National Hockey Coaching Advisor and Head Coach, David Dwyer as Fitness and High-Performance Coach, Adnan Zakir as Junior Talent Identification Coach, Bob Johan Veldhof as Goalkeeping Coach, and Chris Bowen as Sports Psychologist. These experts are tasked with working across all national programmes, from senior to women’s teams, and mentoring local coaches.
The efforts have already shown results, with the national team qualifying for the Hockey World Cup after an eight-year absence. Wani highlighted this as a significant achievement, expressing confidence in the team’s potential to regain its former standing.
Upcoming Series and Grassroots Development
The South Korean team’s visit includes a four-match Test series in Islamabad, scheduled from July 30 to August 7. All matches will take place at the Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium. The series is considered crucial for Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming Hockey World Cup. The first match is set for July 30, followed by subsequent matches on August 1, August 4, and August 7.
This series is the initial phase of a renewed hockey exchange between the two nations, with Pakistan also slated to travel to South Korea in September for a return four-match series. This provides the national side with consecutive international exposure within a few months.
Parallel to these initiatives, the PHF is focusing on grassroots development and women’s hockey. The federation organised the Prime Minister National Women’s Under-21 Hockey Championship in Islamabad in early July, featuring 16 teams. This tournament also served as a talent identification platform, with selected players representing Pakistan in the Under-18 Women’s Asia Cup and the Under-18 Five-a-Side Asia Cup in Oman.
In May, Wani announced a school and college outreach programme aiming to engage 60,000 to 70,000 young individuals in hockey nationwide, distributing free kits to encourage participation among under-14 and under-16 age groups. The PHF has also secured corporate sponsorships, signing Memorandums of Understanding with Alaska Batteries and Sky 47 in May.
The year 2026 is anticipated to be a period of international exposure for Pakistan hockey, with six major assignments on the calendar, including the Hockey World Cup, the Asian Games, the Johor Cup, the Junior Asia Cup, the Under-18 Five-a-Side Asia Cup, and the Under-18 Asia Cup. Additionally, a regional team from China is expected to visit Pakistan in December.
The South Korean team arrived in Pakistan for the four-match series on July 28.
Source: app.com.pk
