PHF signs Vital Group as Pakistan hockey sponsor; Ahsan Iqbal offers Narowal Sports City as team base

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has signed a sponsorship agreement with Vital Group, and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal used the ceremony in Islamabad to offer the national team the National Sports City in Narowal as its permanent training base, ProPakistani reported on Saturday 17 October. Neither side disclosed the value or length of the deal.

What was agreed

• Sponsor: Vital Group, represented at the signing by Mian Asad.
• Purpose: to promote hockey in Pakistan and draw more young players into the game.
• Value and term: not announced.
• Present: Ahsan Iqbal; Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme; PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani; national team players and former Olympians.

What the officials said

Ahsan Iqbal said private-sector backing is essential if hockey is to develop and if players are to have financial security. He said Narowal's National Sports City has international-standard facilities for 14 sports and that the government is working to improve training facilities.

Wani called the deal an important step for the game and for young talent. Rana Mashhood said the government has restored departmental sports, which for decades gave hockey players jobs and a steady income, and is working on the Pakistan Hockey League. He said many Dutch players would be available for the proposed league.

Why it matters

Money has long been hockey's problem in Pakistan, where the federation has depended on government grants. A corporate sponsor and a permanent base would give the team stability ahead of a busy cycle.

The team has had a mixed autumn. Pakistan won bronze at the Asian Games, beating South Korea 5-3 after trailing 3-1 (our report), but then pulled out of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in India, with Bangladesh taking their place (our story). The women's programme held trials for 150 players in Islamabad under Dutch coaches this month (our story).

We will add the sponsorship's value and the Pakistan Hockey League dates when the PHF publishes them.