Let’s hear it for Frontier Falcons!

I think the PHF, led by the tireless efforts of their flamboyant marketing director Sardar Naveed Haider Khan, have done really well in securing sponsors for all six participating teams. I have no doubt that Pakistan’s recent victory in the mini world cup in Holland couldn’t have come at a better time for the SHL. Incidentally, Sardar Naveed is the uncle of a certain popular singer — Adnan Sami. And, looking at his shape and size, one is not surprised at all! But he’s a great guy and has really done wonders for Pakistan hockey.

There was an official dinner on Tuesday night at the Defence Golf Club for all the participating teams. It was fun mingling around with all the players. I was delighted to meet up with Sohail Abbas who, unfortunately, won’t be setting the SHL alight with his sizzling drag flicks. Sohail, along with Md. Waseem, is leaving in a few days to play in the highly competitive Dutch First Division League. They will both be missed.

I will be playing for the Frontier Falcons, a Peshawar-based team. Incidentally, mine is the only team among the six that doesn’t have a single member of the Pakistan team that won the n the mini world cup held recently in Holland.

The Falcons are being coached by former Pakistan right winger Qamar Ibrahim who played in two Olympics, 1992 and 1996, and was part of the lethal forward line of the 90’s which included great players like Kamran Ashraf, Tahir Zaman and Shabhaz Sr.

Although the local media have rated my team as the weakest on paper, I’ve had a couple of training sessions and meetings with the coaches and the boys and I’ve been mighty impressed with the team spirit and teamwork on display.

And I know from experience that big names and big stars on the team list don’t necessarily win you matches. Meticulous planning, smooth execution of those plans, fitness and commitment of all the players are more likely to get you the three points at the end of the day.

Besides, the entire team has gone out of their way to make me feel comfortable and I’m really looking forward to enjoying myself both on and off the pitch. The inaugural match is between Baloch Lions, which has Adrian D’Souza and is led by star Pakistan striker Shakeel Abbasi, and the Sindh Qalanders, which is led by goalkeeper Ahmad Alam and has the wall, Dilip Tirkey, in defence.

Let’s hope the SHL is as big a success as the PHL!