Hazara girls proud to represent Balochistan in NationaL Jr Hockey
Balochistan National Junior women hockey team captain Zarina Hussain termed her teams’ performance in the National Women Junior Hockey Championship as more than what they had expected.
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Balochistan National Junior women hockey team captain Zarina Hussain termed her teams’ performance in the National Women Junior Hockey Championship as more than what they had expected.
Zarina said that her team had practiced for only two days prior to the event “We are from Hazara community, which is living under tight conditions. Even then we get permissions from our parents and went out to play hockey at a college ground. We don’t have any Astroturf in province and not a single ground for females. But all these hurdles can’t stop us.”
She said Balochistan Women Hockey Association President Suriya Alladin is doing a wonderful job and had paid from her own pocket for arranging a van, which gave us pick and drop from our homes.
“I am playing as a full back and had played in two junior championships before in Lahore and Karachi. But all the other girls are completely fresh. I request Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, IPC Minister Riaz Hussain , CM Balochistan, DG PSB and Balochistan Sports Board director to give substantial raise to annual grant. If provided with funds, we have the talent and ability to represent Pakistan at international level.”
While sharing her views Saleh Ali, who plays as centre forward, said: “We could have easily scored 8 to 10 goals, but lack of coordination was the main reason behind scoring only two goals in the event. But we must be given credit for holding Sindh Colours team. Hockey is my passion and I had taken special permission from my parents to play hockey as it is not easy for girls in our area to even think about studies and sports participation is a far cry.”
Asma Ali, who plays in the midfield and scored the second goal for team, said they need grounds to train hard. She also rubbished claims that female coaches should be hired for female players. “Sir Abbas is the most experienced coach and we feel comfortable with him. He is a fatherly figure to us and if he is given free hand, I am sure, he could transform Balcohistan as well as national female team.”
Goalkeeper Saima said it was for the first time she played hockey and was assigned highly tough task of guarding the goal. “I was not feeling comfortable with the helmet. I had thought several times to remove it and could have performed well without helmet. Yes we conceded too many goals, but I had only trained for two-days. It is my promise, I would not let down my team again and my dream is to play for country.”
Abbas Ali, coach of the team, said government must provide jobs to females and take concrete steps towards involving Balochistan players in main stream. He said every government promised to pay special packages for ‘neglected’ Balochistan but nothing materialised. “Our province is blessed with natural talent and my father M Ali was the PHF founder and remained involved till his death in 2007. I had managed to arrange jobs for females in Wapda and other departments but the PSB must enhance grant of Balochistan Women Hockey Association. I strongly feel women wing should be given autonomous status and the PHF should empower women wing and then see the results.”
(Source: The Nation)
Zarina said that her team had practiced for only two days prior to the event “We are from Hazara community, which is living under tight conditions. Even then we get permissions from our parents and went out to play hockey at a college ground. We don’t have any Astroturf in province and not a single ground for females. But all these hurdles can’t stop us.”
She said Balochistan Women Hockey Association President Suriya Alladin is doing a wonderful job and had paid from her own pocket for arranging a van, which gave us pick and drop from our homes.
“I am playing as a full back and had played in two junior championships before in Lahore and Karachi. But all the other girls are completely fresh. I request Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, IPC Minister Riaz Hussain , CM Balochistan, DG PSB and Balochistan Sports Board director to give substantial raise to annual grant. If provided with funds, we have the talent and ability to represent Pakistan at international level.”
While sharing her views Saleh Ali, who plays as centre forward, said: “We could have easily scored 8 to 10 goals, but lack of coordination was the main reason behind scoring only two goals in the event. But we must be given credit for holding Sindh Colours team. Hockey is my passion and I had taken special permission from my parents to play hockey as it is not easy for girls in our area to even think about studies and sports participation is a far cry.”
Asma Ali, who plays in the midfield and scored the second goal for team, said they need grounds to train hard. She also rubbished claims that female coaches should be hired for female players. “Sir Abbas is the most experienced coach and we feel comfortable with him. He is a fatherly figure to us and if he is given free hand, I am sure, he could transform Balcohistan as well as national female team.”
Goalkeeper Saima said it was for the first time she played hockey and was assigned highly tough task of guarding the goal. “I was not feeling comfortable with the helmet. I had thought several times to remove it and could have performed well without helmet. Yes we conceded too many goals, but I had only trained for two-days. It is my promise, I would not let down my team again and my dream is to play for country.”
Abbas Ali, coach of the team, said government must provide jobs to females and take concrete steps towards involving Balochistan players in main stream. He said every government promised to pay special packages for ‘neglected’ Balochistan but nothing materialised. “Our province is blessed with natural talent and my father M Ali was the PHF founder and remained involved till his death in 2007. I had managed to arrange jobs for females in Wapda and other departments but the PSB must enhance grant of Balochistan Women Hockey Association. I strongly feel women wing should be given autonomous status and the PHF should empower women wing and then see the results.”
(Source: The Nation)
