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Akhtar Rasool quits as PHF chief

Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary, the president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, resigned from office today.

''After careful consideration I have decided to quit because of personal reasons,'' Rasool said.

Rasool, who served the PHF as president for three years and as many months, said that since he is not in the government any more, he felt he is "no more useful to serve as the chief of the PHF".

Rasool was elected president first for a one-year term in 1997. He was re-elected again last August and his tenure was to expire in 2002.

''I do not want to stick to the post if I am not in a position to serve or support the PHF or raise funds. I have taken this decision in the larger interest of the game,'' he said.

Rasool said he did his best, "with honesty, devotion and dedication for the promotion of hockey" after taking over a broken team, following a revolt by players before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and a financially crunched PHF.

''Now when I am leaving, the team is showing signs of progress and performance, and Rs 15 million is in the kitty of the PHF,'' he said.

The former Pakistan skipper said it takes years to build a balanced side in today's world of modern and scientific hockey, adding that it is really hard to generate money from the private sector without relying on the government.

''It was our achievement that we generated adequate sponsorship from our own resources besides ensuring maximum participation of senior and junior teams in international tournaments,'' he said.

UNI