ISLAMABAD - Punjab Whites hammered KP 6-0 in the 29th National Women Hockey Championship 2016 match which was played here at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium Sunday. It was by far KP teams’ best result as far as conceding goals are concerned as they had previously conceded 40 goals in two matches they had played so far. But it was again thanks to their strange strategy, as they used almost three goalkeepers, rather than traditionally one goalie.
It was yet again a highly disappointed day as far as PHF arrangements are concerned as none of the federation official nor any women wing representation witnessed. The journalists again went in numbers, but they were left high and dry as not a single tournament organising committee member including tournament director and media director was there. The absence of officials also led delays in start of the action. The federation is looking highly non-serious and taking the event highly lightly as not a single doctor or medical staff was present at the venue to take care of a player in case of injury.
When this scribe contacted PSB high command and wanted to know why no medical officer was deputed and why ambulance service being not provided, a high official on condition of anonymity confirmed that neither federation nor tournament organising committee requested for providing ambulance while PSB medical staff is deputed in case of any emergency to help players. It is highly irresponsible attitude shown by the federation they should have made all arrangements before announcing the mega event. In the first match of the day, Punjab Whites outclassed KP 6-0. It could have been easily more than a dozen goals for Punjab but the missed a number of chances.
Punjab took the lead through Sana Zulfiqar in the 7th minute, Zainab scored second goal in the 14th minute before Laiba Shabaz made it 3-0 in the 20th minute. Sana scored her second and Punjab’s 4th goal in the 27th minute, and Aliya Batool made it 5-0 in the 32nd minute and Zainab completed the rout in the 40th minute when she completed her brace and scored 6th goal.
In the second match of the day, star-studded Railways thrashed sorry Islamabad 6-0. Goal-scoring machine Kalsoom Munir scored 4 goals including a highly deserving hattrick, while Hina Kanwal also chipped in with two goals.
Third and last match of the day was played between defending champions Wapda and Punjab Colours. It was arguably the match of the tournament so far, as Wapda were given a real run for their money before highly determined Punjab Colours lost the match 1-0. Wapda struggled hard to break the rock solid Punjab defence with barrage of attacks until Maira Sabir found the breach to carve out 1-0 win for Wapda.
