Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that it is quite satisfactory to host Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team at the National Hockey Stadium. “Punjab Sports Department has upgraded and renovated this grand hockey venue with an amount of crores of rupees so that international hockey matches could be organized smoothly,” he said this while talking at the first game of 3-match series between Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club teams at the National Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail and IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar were the guests of honour on this occasion. Hockey Olympians Khawaja Junaid (chief organiser), Shahbaz Senior, Tauqeer Dar and Khalid Bashir and a large number of male and female hockey enthusiasts were also present on this occasion.
Besides them top officials of Holland Embassy and Punjab Police, including DIG Mehboob AslamDIG Ather Ismael, Honorary Dutch Consul General Asma Hamid were also present on this occasion.
IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar awarded a souvenir to Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail on this occasion. They also gave souvenirs to hockey players and officials of both teams.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail further said that Punjab Sports Department has laid modern FIH-approved turf at the National Hockey Stadium and we are quite confident to host more international hockey teams at National Hockey Stadium. “Definitely, it is a historic day. The visit of 21-member Dutch hockey club team marked the return of an international hockey team to Pakistan after 21 years. This visit will play a significant role in the revival of international hockey in Pakistan”.
Director General Sports Punjab Dr Asif Tufail said that this visit will play a key role in strengthening sports ties and fostering goodwill between the two nations. “This series will be very helpful in the promotion of hockey among the younger generation. Sports Board Punjab will continue to play its role in the growth of hockey among the youth,” he added.
HEC defeated Netherland’s OHC Bully hockey club team by a narrow margin of 2-1 in the first game of 3-match series. Ammar and Usman Ashraf scored one goal each for HEC team while skipper Ruben Kattier netted the only goal for visiting OHC Bully hockey club team.
The guest team will play three matches in Pakistan. The first two matches will be played in Lahore on February 19 and 21 while Islamabad will host the third match on February 30.
Following are the members of OHC Bully hockey club team: Ruben Kattier (captain), Engberink, Bartelink, Nabeel Minhas, Lenderink, Wijnbergen, Haafkes, Timmers, Wijnbergen, Knaap, Slebos, Bartelink, Helthuis, Oude Middendorp, Van der Aa, Lenderink, Goalies Bartelink, Alberink. Officials: Fareed (coach), Rake (manager).