News for 18 May 2016
All the news for Wednesday 18 May 2016
USWNT Rises Above Chile in Second Match of the Series with Two-Goal Lead
LANCASTER, Pa. – Under the bright stadium lights in central Pennsylvania, the U.S. Women’s National Team met Chile for their second evening match of the series presented by Eastern Alliance. The Home of Hockey based at Spooky Nook Sports housed hundreds of loud, spirited fans all rallying together to support their hometown national team. With their extra energy in the background, Team USA overcame Chile again with a final score of 2-0.
Despite their dominant attack in the first quarter, the initial 15 minutes didn’t produce any results for Team USA. USA's Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie, Pa.) got the firing frenzy off for the red, white and blue followed by another attempt where Emily Wold (Freehold, N.J.) tried to redirect a ball into the cage. Another opportunity presented itself when Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) fed off a rebounded shot originally sent from Kat Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) to strike the ball at close range.This aggressive mentality continued when Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, N.C.) built forward momentum at midfield by locating Ali Froede (Burke, Va.) who took the right sideline with speed.
The second quarter held as much scoring promise as the first with favorable scoring chances generated by the USA. An interception from Katie Bam (Blue Bell, Pa.) was dished to Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) who launched a backhanded shot on target without a result. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute of the game where Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.) slid a crossed ball from the baseline where a scramble of rapid shots occurred which allowed Sharkey to find the backboard to make the score USA 1, Chile 0. Continuing the forward-foot attacking theme, Team USA found a Chile foot to earn their first penalty corner of the match. Vittese's straight shot was denied by Chile's goalkeeper. In the final minute of the first half, a Chilean forward sent the team's first shot on cage but USA goalie Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, N.Y.) blocked the low attempt.
“Tonight was a good demonstration of nice, flowing attack of hockey from us,” said Craig Parnham, USWNT Head Coach. "Chile did a fine job with their defense. They were resolute in their backfield. We created a number of chances and corners. As a team that wants to challenge ourselves to improve, finishing these opportunities will be an area of work as we move through to summer tournaments. A successful corner routine is something we’re working hard toward.”
During the third quarter Bam released a backhanded shot from the top right of the circle but the ball went wide of the cage. Eager to add depth to the goal gap, Dawson ripped a pass to Bam in their attack end who translated the ball into another penalty corner for Team USA. The duo connected again when off of Dawson’s drag flick, Bam redirected play into the goal. The score changed in the 37th minute to USA 2, Chile 0. The fourth quarter contained more of USA's aggressive spirit. Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, Pa.) stole the ball off of Chile's stick to throw it up field to Vittese. Off the play USA won a penalty corner but the opportunity did not change the scoreboard. Quickly after the chance, Bam located a Chile foot in the attack circle for another USA penalty corner but a bobbled stick stop lost the opportunity for Team USA. The USWNT continued to hold the ball in the offensive end until the remaining seconds of play. The final score report mirrored the same result as the series-opener USA 2, Chile 0.
Team USA takes the pitch again Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. EST. Tickets are still on sale and can be purchased by clicking here. A live stream of the next match can also be viewed here.
USFHA media release
Citi Rio Send-Off Series Set for USWNT
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – As the double-digit days dwindle between Team USA and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a final Home of Hockey competition calendar has been confirmed. The U.S. Women's National Team is set for their series against Chile this weekend and has now added to this final leg of preparation with an event in July. This is your last chance to see the red, white and blue in-person before you see them on the big screen. Both India and Canada will travel to Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster County, Pa. for a combined three-match test series against the U.S. Women's National Team. This Citi Rio Send-Off Series against India and Canada are the final preparatory matches before Team USA travels to the Olympic Games and will also be the grand reveal of the USWNT's Olympic Games logo and kit. Don't miss out on the action. As part of the United States Olympic Committee's Olympic Games Trial coverage, the first match of the series against India will be live on NBC Sports.
"We are excited to host India and Canada in Lancaster before we depart for Rio at the end of July," said Craig Parnham, USWNT Head Coach. "The games will provide us with an opportunity to continue to refine our game as we enter the final stages of our Olympic preparation. The differing styles of play that both opponents offer will be a good test for us, requiring us to be flexible and adaptable in our play."
"We hope that the local community will come and support us in what will be our last matches at Spooky Nook Sports before we embark on our Olympic campaign," added Parnham.
The last meeting between the USWNT and India was at the 2015 8 Nations Tournament in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. During the tournament, the teams met twice, once in pool play and again in the semifinals. In the first meeting, India got on the score sheet first but Team USA's sustained effort led them to a 4-2 victory. In the semifinals, Team USA capitalized on scoring opportunities to secure a 3-0 win. India is in the USWNT's pool at the Olympic Games and they will play them on Thursday, August 11. This is the first India Women’s National Team to outright qualify for the Olympic Games. Their last participation was in 1980 through invitation.
Canada and the USWNT met earlier this year in Chula Vista, Calif. for a four-match test series. Team USA swept the series and only conceded one goal.
The USWNT has a busy few months ahead as they prepare for the Olympic Games. The team will host Chile, May 14-19, and then head to the Champions Trophy in London, England, June 18-26. This test series is the last opportunity to get to see Team USA compete in the United States before they leave for Brazil.
USFHA media release
U-21 USMNT in Canada for Junior Men's Pan American Championship
TORONTO, Canada – The U.S. U-21 Men's National Team has officially arrived in Toronto, Canada for the Junior Men's Pan American Championship being held from May 20 -28. Team USA is vying for tournament gold as well as prized qualification to the 2016 Junior World Cup in New Delhi, India. The top-two event finishers will receive an automatic berth to the Junior World Cup.
"These young men have trained hard, and our goal is to continue to build on the foundation we've laid the past few months," said Rutger Wiese, U-21 USMNT Head Coach. "We're going to take it one game at a time."
The team has had a few busy months prior preparing for the qualification tournament with aspirations to succeed and advance. In January, the U-21 USMNT hosted Canada for a four-match test series in Chula Vista, Calif. This was followed by a training camp in February where all facets of hockey were examined including nutrition, maintaining the healthiest lifestyles possible, strategy and cohesiveness.
In an effort to continue to expose the team to elite international competition, the U-21 USMNT traveled to Holland from March 23 to April 2 where they faced five top-ranked Dutch club teams as well has had six training session. These playing opportunities and the international atmosphere that the tour provided proved to be vital in the team's preparation.
"The junior squad has been progressing well throughout the build up to the tournament," said Chris Clements, U.S. Men's National Team Head Coach. "We are always looking for improvements in performance and look forward to seeing how the team performs in Canada. Many thanks to the USA Field Hockey Men's Foundation, Booster Club and RallyMe donors."
Team USA’s 2016 Junior Pan American Championship Roster:
Doug Allison (Westlake Village, Calif.), Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Alex Cunningham (Bad Kreuznach, Ger.), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Jaspreet Gill (Placentia, Calif.), Grayson Javins (Paihia, NZ.), Stuart Kentwell (Spring City, Pa.), Amar Khokar (Valencia, Calif.), Ethan La Sala (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), George McGuigan (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Nathaniel O'Lari (Orange, Mass.), Ajit Parmar (Freemont, Calif.), Keeling Pilaro (Southhamption, N.Y.), Nicholas Richardson (Kents Hill, Maine), Javieer Singh (Hayward, Calif.), Ruben van Dam (Valkenswaard, Netherlands), Casey Walker (Ventura, Calif.) and Trent Warren (Moorpark, Calif.).
The U.S. U-21 Men's National Team is extremely grateful for all the support they have received so far from The USA Field Hockey Men’s Foundation and Booster Club, families and friends of the players, and those who have also contributed to their Journey to Qualify for the Junior World Cup campaign. Please consider supporting Team USA as they pursue gold at the Junior Men's Pan American Championship and look to qualify for the Junior World Cup.
Keep up with the U.S. U-21 Men's National Team at the Junior Men's Pan American Championship by visiting usafieldhockey.com and following @USAFieldHockey on Twitter. #NoOffDays
USFHA media release
Green Machine Summer Series Announced
As the Olympic Games draws ever closer there will be a plethora of International hockey on display around the country over the coming months. The Green Machine will face Korea, Canada and the Netherlands in no fewer than 10 fixtures during May, June and July. The matches offer the opportunity to see 2 Olympic-bound teams, Canada and the Netherlands, as well as world number 9 Korea.
The home-fixtures are part of several match series the Green Machine will take part in before the Rio Olympics. The side will meet Germany in a 3 match-series in Hamburg on May 12th, 13th and 15th. They will also compete in a 6 nations (Ireland, Argentina, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, India) tournament in Valencia from June 27th to July 3rd
Speaking about the upcoming home fixtures Coach Craig Fulton said “It’s great for the public to see these top teams but equally important to give them a chance to come and support the Green Machine. These matches will be very competitive; the Netherlands are world number 2 and current European champions”.
Fulton continued, “Playing Canada in Ireland will be great competition for both teams. We are very closely ranked (Ireland 12th & Canada 14th) and the games will have a nice edge to them. We are still in selection phase which will allow us to play different players throughout the 4 game series”.
“Korea will be competing in the Champions Trophy in London in June and they will give us a real challenge. We will be very focused on achieving our training and playing team goals against a very attacking Korean team.” Fulton concluded.
• May 31st at 7pm in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Korea
• June 2nd at 7pm in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Korea
• June 4th at 2pm in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Korea
• June 5th at 2pm in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Korea
• June 9th at 7pm in NICS, Stormont Ireland vs Canada
• June 10th at 7pm in NICS, Stormont Ireland vs Canada
• June 12th at 2pm in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Canada
• June 14th at 11:30am in UCD Dublin Ireland vs Canada
• July 4th at 7pm in University College Cork Ireland vs The Netherlands
• July 6th at 7pm in University College Cork Ireland vs The Netherlands
Tickets available online by clicking here and at the gate.
Irish Hockey Association media release
HTHC's power of resilience in bronze battle
Christoph Bechmann hailed his Harvestehuder THC side’s powers of resilience as they bounced back from FINAL4 defeat to AH&BC Amsterdam to beat Atlètic Terrassa.
Speaking to the EHL website about their 3-2 win to earn bronze, he said: “After the semi-final loss, we needed an hour alone. But then, we said together that we have to be third and it was a perfect aim for us.
“We had good concentration on Saturday evening and, on Sunday, we made it and are really happy.”
His side hosted Round 1 of the competition, seeing off Scottish and Austrian sides before eliminating Dinamo Kazan in the KO16 and reigning champions Oranje Zwart in the KO8. Amsterdam proved too strong in a 4-2 semi-final outcome before winning the bronze.
The charismatic Bechmann said that, from a coaching perspective, there were things that could have been improved about their performance but he was satisfied with the end produce.
“We are always getting better. As a coach, I am never fully satisfied with the team but, today, we had to win and we won so everything is ok.
“Tobias Hauke played really well today and Tobias Lietz as right defender and Felix Mathes. These three were really good this weekend.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Sreejesh, Raghunath recalled
PEP TALK: Chief coach Roelant Oltmans with the players during the team’s training session at the SAI South Centre in Bengaluru.Photo: K. Murali Kumar
Sardar Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh were rested while P.R. Sreejesh and V.R. Raghunath were recalled as Hockey India named an 18-member squad for next month’s Champions Trophy.
In a continuation of its policy of rotation ahead of the Olympics, India made six changes to the side that had travelled to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April.
Sreejesh and Raghunath, who had been rested from the Malaysia trip, returned, while goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya and Pradeep Mor were promoted from the junior side. Devinder Walmiki, who has recovered fully from his shoulder injury, made a comeback, while Akashdeep Singh took Ramandeep Singh’s place up front.
After the Champions Trophy (June 10 to 17 in London), India will travel to the Six Nations Invitational Tournament (June 27 to July 5) in Valencia.
“If you look at how much these guys (Sardar and Rupinder) have played over the last couple of years, it’s time for a break,” said the chief coach, Roelant Oltmans, at the SAI here on Tuesday. “In Valencia, I want all the seniors to be back in the team. So there was no other option than to give them a break right now, which will absolutely help us at the Olympics.”
At the Champions Trophy, India will face Great Britain, Germany, Australia, South Korea and Belgium. Four of those opponents will be at the Olympics, with Germany in Group ‘B’ alongside India in Rio. “Let’s first wait and see which team Germany is sending,” Oltmans cautioned. “They will probably send their development team. Because they will also come to Valencia, where I expect them to be with a full squad.”
Sreejesh, who has been named captain, believed the team would learn to cope without Sardar. “There will be a difference,” he said. “But Manpreet (Singh) and Harjeet (Singh) can solve the issue well. We are not dependent on any one player. If Sardar (Singh) goes out for five minutes during a match and somebody has to fill in for him, we’re ready for that. I used to play every match until I was rested for the Azlan Shah Cup.
“Somebody replaced me and he did the job better. The seniors need rest before Rio.”
The squad: P.R. Sreejesh (capt.), Vikas Dahiya, Pradeep Mor, V.R. Raghunath, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Devinder Walmiki, Harjeet Singh, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, and Nikkin Thimmaiah.
The Hindu
Sreejesh hopes for a consistent show
Prasanth Menon
KOCHI: From the maidans of GV Raja Sports School, Thiruvananthapu ram, to being named as the captain of Indian hockey team, PR Sreejesh has come a long way. Though he may only be a stand-in captain for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament as Sardar Singh is likely to return as the skipper for the six-nation tournament in Spain and the Rio Olympics, the lad from Kochi is delighted at his elevation.
"I didn't expect this. It is a huge honour. I know this is a temporary appointment. But whether you captain Indian team for one game or for one year, I will always be known as former Indian captain, isn't it,?" the custodian of Indian citadel for the last half a decade told TOI.
Returning to the squad after being rested for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, the 30-year-old reckons the Champions Trophy in London is going to be the beginning of match-wise preparation for the team for Rio Olympics. "We will be playing against top teams in the next two months, first in the Champions Trophy and then in the six-nation tournament in Spain. We have beaten all the top sides in the last two years. But what we have lacked is consistency in big tournaments. We will strive for a consistent performance in Champions Trophy. I think the best performance of an Indian team in Champions trophy is a third place finish (in 1982). We will try to better that record," said Sreejesh.
The Arjuna award winner feels that month-long camp in Bengaluru has done a world of good to the team. "I think the camp has been great. A lot of scientific input has been used in this training camp which has helped players immensely," he said.
The Times of India
Sardar 'happy' being rested; Sreejesh to lead India in Champions Trophy
New Delhi: Insisting that the Olympics are more important than any other tournament, Indian hockey team skipper Sardar Singh said he is happy with the selection committee's decision to rest him from the 18-member Champions Trophy squad announced on Tuesday.
Sardar alongwith ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh was rested from the national squad as top goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh was named captain for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Champions Trophy in London from June 10 to 17.
Appreciating the move, Sardar said it is a part of Hockey India's rotation policy and he is happy with whatever the selectors decide, keeping in mind the upcoming Rio Olympics.
"It (resting seniors) is the decision of the selectors and I am happy with it. I have been playing non-stop for quite some time. Even Sreejesh was rested for Sultan Azlan Shah tournament, so it is part of the rotation policy," Sardar told IANS.
"Playing back-to-back tournaments has its toll on the body of the players and they need a break. Olympics is more important than these tournaments. There are no injury concerns and the body is responding well," he added.
Striker S.V. Sunil has been retained as the vice-captain of the squad which also has seasoned first team players like V.R. Ragunath, Kothajit Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Akashdeep Singh to name a few.
Raghunath and Akashdeep were rested during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in April.
Defender Harmanpreet Singh, one of the outstanding performers from the team's silver medal winning Azlan Shah Cup team, finds himself retained in the squad, and was joined by his Under-21 colleagues, Harjeet Singh and goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya. Dahiya will be a back up to Sreejesh in the squad.
The 29-year-old further said that the team has a good mix of youth and experience and the tournament will be a good opportunity for coach Roelant Oltmans to check out the youngsters.
"Its a balanced side, hopefully the coach can try out some of the talented youngsters during the tournament," Sardar said.
India had finished fourth in the 2014 Champions Trophy held in Bhubaneswar and the side will look to deliver a medal in London.
"At the Champions Trophy, our aim will be to put in a class performance, and finish as high as we can," Sreejesh said in a statement.
"Finishing with a medal at the tournament will give us a lot of confidence going into the Olympics."
Oltmans also echoed the same sentiments. "It is important that we approach the tournament, not just with a view to winning it, but also to execute our tactics well, and learn from past mistakes and keep evolving.
"This will ensure, that as a team we are prime placed when we reach Rio, physically, mentally and tactically," he added.
Squad: P.R. Sreejesh (Captain), Vikas Dahiya, Pradeep Mor, V.R. Raghunath, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Manpreet Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Devinder Sunil Walmiki, Harjeet Singh, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, S.V. Sunil (Vice-Captain), Akashdeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah.
The Times of India
National Championships: The rise of Universities hockey team
K Arumugam
The hectic, gigantic and fruitful domestic season - where six separate championships for each gender were held – is coming to close, its time to look back and pick up strands of positives. Return of Indian Railways as the domestic power either gender, is a heartening thing, for, Indian hockey owes a lot to it for its solid contribution in terms of providing first job opportunity to the budding talents.
The highlight of the sixth Hockey India Senior Men’s Championship (Division A) is undoubtedly the rise of Combined Universities’ hockey team as a force to reckon with, besides various Sports Authority of India teams knocking the doors.
Unbelievable, but it did occur.
Neglected and governed on archaic ways, the Indian Universities’ combined team has been a pathetic passenger in the Nationals for long, despite its potential and history.
Universities are, by definition, where new things ought to occur and innovations need to flow, but strangely hockey in particular was out of sync with those traits.
Its futile now to discuss why our University hockey teams failed for long, for the simple reason it had been done umpteen times.
Suffice to say that if things don’t work one has to think out of box.
At last, last year the Association of Indian Universities, which manages combined sports teams, woke up from its slumber.
It thought out of box. It crossed what it erroneously thought was its Laksman Rekha.
It adopted a befitting Public, Private Partnership Model (PPP).
It worked.
The Combined Universities team, which was in a tough pool at Safai, Etawah, Senior Men’s Championships, surprised many before reaching the semi-final in a majestic way.
Best performance in decades.
The turn-around was made possible due to two vital decisions: first to select and groom the team on professional lines, and secondly to give the coaching job to young and proven mind in Gurdeep Singh. The lanky former player who till recently was managing the ONGC team and helped it blossom to its full, gave the turn over the team lacked. Records show how ONGC won many laurels including top positions in Inter-Petroleum domain during his tenure.
In an era, where young hockey brains choose easy of umpiring over coaching -which offers comfort life without sweat - his acceptance of coaching challenge in itself is a good augury.
The AIU agreed to give up some of its rights and instead came forward to let Delhi based Nehru Hockey Tournament Society to organize Inter-Zone Universities’ event. A break from tradition set the happy tune, flowing.
Nehru Society, as we all know, doesn’t have financial moorings unlike in the past, yet it was cajoled to offer this platform which it thankfully accepted.
If conceptually right and approach is honest, results will come.
This is the case here.
Nehru Society gave up its ritualistic yet traditional Champions Colleges Cup, instead organized the Inter-Zone itself under the same name. Independent selectors were roped in, services of neutral umpires sought, which offered a level playing field for the participating teams.
A month long camp followed. The Society spent turf rent.
Its here challenge loving Gurdeep Singh got a chance to instil discipline and right attitude with the boys. It was at Delhi’s Shivaji Stadium this writer saw the boys sweating it out for three weeks under Gurdeep. In the past, a single college represented CU teams and lacked preparations, as AIU has no purse.
Honing individual skills, playing under a pre-determined format, objectivity in whatever is being attempted, were all attempted at the camp.
“The boys are really good, and they should do well”, he said at the conclusion of the camp, which not many took seriously until the results start flowing from Safai.
The icing on the cake was defeating strong Uttar Pradesh, the home team, on its way to the semis. Bhopal was also seen off.
Gurdeep Singh, who attended FIH Coaching Course in 2010 despite his marriage was very close – indeed he took a day’s leave for his own marriage and returned to course -- believed he can deliver and he is well on course to accomplish.
But everyone knows its long way to go before the Universities’ hockey count seriously. It will come with consistently strong performance in the domestic circuit not just in the Nationals.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
The team could not move beyond semis, and its an indicator as to the road ahead.
The thing here is everyone concerned seems serious and committed.
If continuity is there countable results will come in future too.
As of now Kudos to Gurdeep Singh and his crack outfit.
Stick2Hockey.com
Spar hockey festival
Lynn.Hitchcock
Liya Tiyali of Wartburg Kirchdorff manoeuvers the ball to take a shot at goal.
CONTINUING their dominance in the South African Spar KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, Wartburg Kirchdorf, for the fourth time, cleaned up at this year’s Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional at Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg on Saturday, May 14.
Led by star player Captain Elke Engelbrecht, the in-form team scored an impressive 18 goals from six games. They met Ladysmith Hih School in the finals after a round robin tournament. The score was 0-0 at half time with both teams maintaining a 50% possession. After a quick change over, Wartburg’s Erin Jarvie was camped out on the left upright and with a quick reaction knocked the ball in to score the team’s first goal. Wartburg cemented their win when Vanessa Mkhize bagged the team’s second goal resulting in their 2-0 victory.
“It was great to have been at Hermannsburg again for this regional, especially as they celebrate their 160 anniversary, as the oldest private school in KZN,” said Les Galloway, tournament director..
The Most Promising Umpire was Walter Moore representing Ladysmith High School.
Results:
1 Wartburg Kirchdorf, 2 Ladysmith, 3 Greytown, 4 Wembley College, 5 Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg, 6 Estcourt.
News24
PHA ‘offender’ Bhindara named adviser to PHF chief
Mohammad Yaqoob
LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in a highly controversial move, has appointed Shahid Pervaiz Bhindara as the adviser to PHF president after the same official was removed by Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) on May 10 as a result of a no-confidence motion tabled against him by their general council.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the PHF stated that before going abroad, Bhindara had expressed his inability to continue as president Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) due to his personal commitments and had tendered his resignation.
“Before his departure abroad, Mr. Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara, ex-president PHA, had expressed his inability to continue as president PHA due to his personal commitments and tendered his resignation. However, keeping in view his rich expertise and keen interest in the game of hockey, retired Brig Mohammad Khalid Khokhar, president PHF has appointed Bhindara as his adviser with immediate effect.”
This is a complete somersault which the PHF has unashamedly taken on Bhindara since it was barely few days ago that this month that a federation press release had clearly stated: “Bhindara along with his secretary Ajmal Lodhi have been removed from the said posts as a result of a no-confidence motion tabled against him by the PHA general council. Punjab Hockey has been facing a crisis situation for a very long time. The absence of proper premises was badly hurting the effective functioning of the association. Resultantly, the performance of the team in various domestic activities/tournaments was continuously declining.
“The district council of Punjab Hockey Association (PHA) has exercised the provision of PHA constitution whereby; 3/4th of the council members expressed their vote of no confidence on all the office-bearers (president, secretary and treasurer) of PHA as a result of which all three office bearers have been relieved off of their duties. The council, exercising its power has further elected following office bearers as their successors: Mr Khawaja Zarar Kaleem of Gujranwala as President PHA; retired Col Asif Khokhar (younger brother of PHF president Sajjad Khokhar) of Lahore as secretary PHA and Mr Allah Dad of Jhang as treasurer PHA.”
When contacted by Dawn, PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior said it was not a big issue since Bhindara was a key hockey organiser and the PHF has decided to compensate him by appointing as adviser to PHF president.
But when reminded that Bhindara was removed by the PHA who had levelled serious charges against him, Shahbaz stumped this correspondent with a most amazing reply: “These are all small things.”
Dawn
Hockey world saddened by death of former Board member Wolfgang Rommel
Wolfgang P.R. Rommel (1940-2016) Photo: DHB / Ariane Schirle
It is with great sadness that the International Hockey Federation (FIH) learned of the death of Honorary President of the German Hockey Federation Wolfgang P.R. Rommel who passed away earlier this month aged 76 following a long illness.
For many years Wolfgang was actively involved in the sport of hockey – at national level as a player, President and honorary President of the German Hockey Federation (DHB). He was also a member of the FIH Executive Board for many years, in addition to his work with the FIH Rules Committee.
Wolfgang was a talented individual both on and off the field, and a hockey enthusiast - a passion that was inherited by his children, Jenny and Torsten Rommelm who also played for the German national team.
Throughout his career he received many plaudits, recognised by several awards he received including the FIH Award of Merit and in Germany, the Federal Cross of Merit.
Speaking of his death, FIH President Leandro Negre said: "With Wolfgang Rommel, hockey has lost an inspirational role model. He helped shape the DHB over several decades which saw the national teams' performance consistently improve. His passion spread much beyond Germany however, with his work for the FIH hugely important to the progress that our sport has made in recent years. On behalf of the hockey family, we would like to offer our deepest condolences to his family and close friends at this difficult time. "
FIH site