FMC Hockey Talent Hunt In South Punjab

In order to find hockey talent in the often neglected areas of South Punjab, FMC in collaboration with the Dar Hockey Academy, planned a comprehensive programme.

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Jul, 2018 ) :In order to find hockey talent in the often neglected areas of South Punjab, FMC in collaboration with the Dar Hockey Academy, planned a comprehensive programme.

The first phase of the programme branded through FMC's star product Talstar has already been carried out, said President Dar Hockey Academy, former hockey Olympian, Taqueer Dar, while talking to APP here on Tuesday.

A selection team, led by Dar Hockey Academy's head coach Danish Kaleem, (World Cup Winner 1994) conducted two day trials at Bahawalpur and Multan in the last week of June.

"Around 75 boys turned up at Bahawalpur. They belonged to Bahawalpur and its adjoining areas such as Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Sadiqabad, Khanpur, Haroonbad and Ahmedpur Sharqia, he said adding "Almost a similar number of players appeared at the trials in Multan. They came from Vehari, Khanewal, D.

G.Khan, Layyah and Muzaffargarh." The best 26 boys were selected.

All the boys who appeared in the trials at these two places were paid cash for the two-way fare and also given lunch and refreshments by the FMC, he added.

"In the next phase, these 26 boys will figure in an exhibition match against Dar Hockey Academy in Lahore on July 6," said the former hockey Olympian.

The most outstanding of the visiting players will be offered scholarships by the Dar Hockey Academy to stay at the academy's hostel and train with its boys.

He said the FMC would present all the 26 players with cash prizes worth Rs 10,000 each.

The boarding and lodging of these players in Lahore plus the cost of organizing the trial match will also be borne by the FMC.

Expressing his delight, Taqueer Dar said, "I really appreciate FMC's great endeavor in helping us identify the hockey talent in South Punjab."