Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team defeated Higher Education Commission (HEC) team by a thin margin of 4-3 in the second match to level the 3-match series at the National Hockey Stadium on Wednesday. The guest team will play their third and last match in Islamabad.
Former provincial sports minister Rana Mashhood and Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail were the guests of honour on this occasion. They also witnessed an exciting hockey match and appreciated the fighting game of both teams. The players and officials of both the teams were introduced with the guests of honour. They also had group photos on this occasion.
HEC DG Sports Javed Memon, Director Sports Yasmeen Akhtar, Director Youth Affairs Rana Nadeem Anjum, DIG Mehboob Aslam Lillah, Chairperson Almarah Foundation Mrs Sofia Waraich, former Test captain M Yousaf, international kabaddi star Shafiq Chishti, Olympian Khawaja Junaid (chief organiser) and a large number of hockey lovers were also present on this occasion.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail, on this occasion said that the 3-match series between Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team and Higher Education Commission (HEC) is definitely a great development for the revival of international hockey in Pakistan. “The presence of a large crowd reflected a true passion for hockey among Pakistan’s peace loving people,” he added.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that Sports Board Punjab has upgraded and renovated grand National Hockey Stadium and laid FIH-approved turf in a bid to revive hockey, which is the national game of Pakistan. “We are quite upbeat that Pakistan will regain the lost hockey glory and rule the hockey world again”.
After losing the first match by 2-1, Bully hockey club team improved their game a lot in the second match. Nabeel Minhas, Mak Landerink, skipper Ruben Kattier and Leen Timmers struck one goal each for Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team. HEC’s boys also carved out several goal scoring moves but they failed to produce enough goals to beat their opponents. HEC’s Ammar netted two goals while the third goal was scored by Usman Ashraf.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 3-match series against Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team is being organized under the auspices of SBP Kh Junaid Hockey Academy, Punjab Police and HEC.