PHF chief Bugti talks FIH Pro League, bilateral series and player allowances

In order to give maximum exposure to the team, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has started working on entering into deals with various nations across the world with regards to bilateral series.

Besides discussing the matter with Malaysian Hockey Federation in recent days, the PHF also has on its radar nations in Europe as well as India.

"Yes, we have held productive meetings with the Malaysian Hockey Federation officials and we have reached an understanding with them relating to bilateral series for the next two to three years. They will come here and we will meet their boarding and lodging expenses and they will meet the same when we will go there," PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti told Nukta in a detailed chat on Friday.

"We have reached an understanding with them and we are working on it further before signing a formal MoU," Bugti was quick to add.

Bugti was recently in Kuala Lumpur where Pakistan team finished second in the FIH Nations Cup conducted at the National Hockey Stadium in the Malaysian capital.

"We are also in talks with other nations. We are talking with Belgium and some other European nations. We also have good relations with Oman and we are also working on India if they come here as the entire world wants to see Pakistan-India matches. Now as Pakistan hockey has got some momentum so the world has started talking that Pakistan hockey cannot be ignored now,” Bugti said.

About the FIH Pro League matter, Bugti said that Pakistan will need at least 20 days to work on the matter before taking a formal decision relating to the fielding of national team in the major event.

"There is no confirmation from New Zealand about withdrawal and everything is verbal. We have told FIH to inform us immediately after New Zealand will withdraw officially. FIH have told us to inform them if we are interested. We are definitely interested in the FIH Pro League but we will take the government onboard. PHF will not take any such decision which could land it in trouble as we may face international ban if we don't fulfill the promise,” Bugti said.

"I told my office to write letter to the FIH as we need 15 to 20 days so that we could also meet Prime Minister who is the Patron-in-Chief of the federation and after that we will take decision on the pro league,” he said.

"The event is very important for us. If we feature in it, we will improve our ranking. The players will get exposure and if we think about the game and its revival and the players then we should participate in the FIH Pro League," he said.

"And if we don't go after confirming participation due to financial issues then we will face sanctions,” Bugti reiterated.

New Zealand, the winners of the recently-held FIH Nations Cup, have reportedly withdrawn from the league citing financial reasons and Pakistan have been put on alert as a standby nation by the FIH. However, confusion is still there as an FIH’s official has also reportedly said that New Zealand have not yet officially updated the world body about its stance relating to its withdrawal.

The FIH also confirmed that it has sent invitations to both New Zealand and Pakistan.

“The process is that the winners of the Nations Cup get the opportunity to join Pro League for the next season. However, should that team finally decline this option then the team that finished second gets that opportunity,” an FIH spokesman told Nukta.

“This is why an invitation was sent by FIH to New Zealand and also to Pakistan, in case New Zealand would decline. To date, the stance of Hockey New Zealand is not confirmed,” the spokesman said.

The PHF needs a hefty amount of $2.5 million for fielding its side in the Pro League if its participation is confirmed.

"The amount which we have demanded is just for participation in the Pro League. If we also go for hiring any foreign coach then the budget will soar further,” Bugti said.

"When we had brought Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans he was demanding a salary of Rs4 million per month,” he added.

Bugti also reposed his confidence in head coach and Olympian Tahir Zaman, saying Pakistan will need urgently a foreign goalkeeper coach.

"I am satisfied with the way Tahir Zaman delivered as a coach. He is doing a great job. Yes, we know that in some zones our team is weak and I must say that we should hire a foreign goalkeeper coach immediately. It's our weakest area and we need to work on it and we feel this,” Bugti said.

Issue of daily allowances

He also spoke about the players not getting daily allowances during the recently-concluded FIH Nations Cup.

"There is no such issue of daily allowances,” he said. "The previous dues of 2022-2023 tenure in different sectors is around Rs740,000,00. If we start clearing old dues then we will not be able to focus on our players and the game.”

"Before going into this event in Kuala Lumpur we had not got funds for accommodation and food and it was important to feature in the event. When players will play, they will get daily allowances. We had some money and we spent that on the event and now when we have returned from the tournament in Kuala Lumpur we will give the boys their dues,” Bugti said.

"Look a single event consumes around Rs50 million," he said.

About losing final of the FIH Nations Cup against New Zealand, Bugti said that had Pakistan got a day rest before the final then the results could have been different.

"Our players needed recovery," he said.

About revenue generation, Bugti said that assets are required for that.

"If you don't have assets how you will generate revenue. Revenue can be generated from the existing infrastructure but that is not in our control," he said.

"There should be Pakistan Hockey Board as a corporate body so that it could generate revenue and meet its own finances as the PCB does," he said.

Bugti said the first time in history Chief of Army Staff Field Martial Asim Munir has managed medical cards of Combined Military Hospitals (CMH) for around 25 players which helps in their treatment.

Bugti defends his foreign tours

Responding to a question, Bugti also said that he would continue to go to foreign tours with the team despite facing immense criticism.

"No one can stop me from accompanying hockey team. I want to encourage my boys and this is also the demand of our players. You can ask them that how they feel when Bugti is with them on foreign tours. They know that there is someone who looks after them,” he said.

“In China one of our boys twisted his knee and I was there and announced on the spot that PHF and the state will pay for his treatment anywhere in the world. This is my duty and I am doing my duty. Look in the past families used to proceed on foreign tours and I controlled that trend. Those who criticize me are the sort of people who will start praising me if I give them any position,” he said.

"I cannot accommodate all these political actors. If they are to do their politics, they should do that but we will handle and focus on hockey development," Bugti signed off.