Tournaments like Friendship cup are the key to survival of hockey in Pune, says Firoz Shaikh

As joint secretary at Hockey Maharashtra Shaikh’s mission is to get city hockey back on track.

Firoz Shaikh, international umpire, former national player, and founder of Rovers Academy feels, says such tournaments are key for the survival of hockey in the city. Shaikh is also the director of physical education at SNBP school for the last 14 years. As joint secretary at Hockey Maharashtra his mission is to get city hockey back on track.

Firoz Shaikh, international umpire, former national player, and founder of Rovers Academy (HT PHOTO)

Is hockey dying in the city?

There are not enough opportunities provided to talented youth in the city to play hockey. We must have more games to nurture the talent towards the higher levels. Players are showing tremendous talent on the field. The city used to witness a minimum of 20 tournaments in the year in various formats. The city had 48 clubs which which has shrunk to eighteen clubs now, rather than increasing. To improve grassroots hockey in the city, we need to have more local tournaments like the Friendship Cup.

So, the Friendship Cup helps?

The Friendship Cup will play a key role by inspiring others to increase the number of tournaments in the city. Senior players have nothing to play for and their practice is also affected. Vacations is the best time to develop grassroots of hockey in the city. The number of clubs and players must increase. I am already managing four all-India level hockey championships every year. I thought of boosting local players by providing a helping hand managing this, the first edition of the Friendship Cup and will continue in the future with more editions of the cup.