PETALING JAYA: Perak Hockey Association (PHA) president Datuk Saiyuti Samat is confident Pakistan will compete in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup as promised despite facing internal conflict in their parent body.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) were caught in turmoil after president Brigadier Khalid Sajjad Khokar resigned earlier this year.
Two factions led by politicians have claimed that they have taken charge of PHF – one group led by Shehla Reza and secretary Haider Hussain and the other helmed by politician Mir Tariq Bugti and secretary Rana Mujahid – and are said to be planning to start a training camp soon.
Rana had announced in Pakistan media that Dutchman Roelant Oltmans, who was sacked by the association as their junior World Cup coach in December, will be guiding the team that will compete in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from May 4-11 and the Nations Cup in Poland from May 31-June 9.
However, Shehla had also made an announcement earlier that the Pakistan side will start training under former international Shahnaz Sheikh.
Azlan Shah Cup organising committee chairman Saiyuti, however, said Pakistan will surely send a team to the invitational tournament.
“We are keeping close tabs on the matters in PHF and despite the internal situation, Pakistan will definitely a send a team,” said Saiyuti.
“I hear that Rana’s group have asked Oltmans to guide the national side for the Azlan Shah Cup.
“I believe there will be a meeting with these two factions with world body FIH this week to identify who are the legitimate group to lead PHF.
“If everything moves as planned, Pakistan should arrive on May 2,” he said.
Pakistan, who are regulars at the Azlan Shah Cup, won the tournament in 1999, 2000 and 2003.
If their participation is confirmed, they will open their campaign this time against hosts Malaysia on May 4.
