The Federation of International Hockey (FIH) expressed its worries over the prevailing situation surrounding the Bangladesh Hockey Federation.
Uncertainty shrouds the governing body of hockey in the country, as not only has the new committee failed to take shape, but the accumulation of funds for new turf at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium has yet to gather pace.
Leandro Negre, president of the FIH, promised to facilitate the development of hockey in Bangladesh by reserving a budget of $2.5 lakh for the artificial turf after visiting Dhaka in February this year.
The International Olympic Association was to provide $1.5 lakh, with the FIH contributing $75,000 and the BHF bearing the remaining expenses.
However, as doubts persisted regarding the gathering of funds on the BHF’s behalf, Taiyab Ikram, the FIH’s director of development for Bangladesh, said that if the abnormality did not come to an end then the financial assistance might be moved out and allocated to a developing African country.
The BHF, on the other hand, was confident that the FIH would not withdraw their assistance as they had already discussed distributing $75000 to start the re-establishment work of the artificial turf with the National Sports Council.
After speaking with Taiyab, Wing Commander Rafiul Haque, representative of the president of the BHF, told reporters that the FIH stated its anxiousness over the current situation and inquired when the crisis will come to an end.
‘I told him [Taiyab Ikram] not to worry about the current state of affairs as the president [Air Marshal Enamul Bari] is looking after the situation and has also taken some initiatives to resolve the problem. After receiving assurances, he [Taiyab] told me to do the necessary work to re-establish the turf,’ said Haque.
If the new artificial turf is established, then the old turf will be transferred to another district for the development of hockey.
Reservations were also expressed regarding the routine visits of Michael Keenan, the Belgian advisor coach of the FIH, who was supposed to come to Bangladesh on a number of occasions to advise the national team.
His visits were delayed due to the existing situation with the BHF.
Keenan was last supposed to come to Dhaka on June 25 but he cancelled his visit.
The Belgian signed a one-year contract with the BHF in February to advise the national team during six different visits.
-With New Age input
