Islamabad: (PR) The final phase of trials for selection of Mari Petroleum hockey Team concluded at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad today. Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) has short listed thirty six young and budding hockey players from entire country to form a formidable hockey team which will soon take part in national level hockey competitions.
A total of 275 players appeared in open hockey trials that took place in Gojra, Faisalabad, Lahore and Islamabad. A selection committee comprising of Manzoor-ul-Hassan Senior, Mr Saleem Sherwani, Mr Ayaz Rasool (Olympians), Brig Saleem Nawaz ex DG Army Sports and Lt Col Mohsin Ali (Retd) ex manager Pakistan hockey team, took the trials of the probables.
The initiative taken by MPCL was spearheaded by non other but Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad (Retd), MD/CEO MPCL who is an ardent sportsman and an outstanding hockey and tennis player.
The short listed 36 hockey players will undergo extensive training under the supervision of highly qualified coaches and trainers with special attention to improve the physical fitness, skill level and mental attitude of the players.
MPCL also plans to carry out further talent hunting from hockey hubs of Sindh, KPK and Balochistan in next phase. Mr. Manzoor-ul-Hassan Senior, Mr. Saleem Sherwani the ex Olympians, described MPCL’s intervention as beacon of hope for revival of hockey in Pakistan. Manzoor-ul-Hassan senior hailed the MPCL management decision to raise the hockey team and urged the other organizations of the Corporate Sector to promote and support sports activities in the country.
Mr Saleem Sherwani who was one of the most celebrated hockey goal keepers during the golden period of Pakistan hockey, highly appreciated the MPCL effort and described the selection process as one of the best ever held in the country.
Lt Gen Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad (Retd) personally witnessed the trials at Naseer Bunda hockey stadium in Islamabad and urged the players to continue working hard and follow the foot steps of the hockey legends, who were present at the occasion.
