Unfamiliar Sports Federation’s Scandal.

Pakistan is first, no more ignominy through sports.

Report by Nawaz  Gohar
No doubt it is the sensational “Sports Leaks” of the time regarding a network of bogus sports federations working secretly in Pakistan with international tours disclosed recently. Surprisingly it is found that five sports federations running by one single man based in Karachi under the hidden shelter of Sindh Olympics Association (SOA) which is an affiliated united of Pakistan Olympics Association (POA).

Sports Link revealed that Saad Usmani, an owner of Pan Cigarettes Kahoka in north Karachi is the President of Sepak Takraw Federation of Pakistan and his front man Noushad Ahmed Khan the Secretary General of other sports federations which includes Sepak Takraw

Pentanque & Sports Blouse, Chilone and Soft Tennis and also designated President of Kho Kho federation.

Office bearers of these federations are concealed on papers but amazingly Ali Ahmad Rajput Secretary General of Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) is found on the part touring international with them despite of these sports are not shown in the list of SOA. All tours are on self-finance.

Noushad Ahmed collect relevant expenses for the international tour from players and award national color of Pakistan freely.

Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) looks to be unknown but why? PSB is the official governing body to control all sports federations in Pakistan and issues NOC for obtaining visa to the concerning international participation.

Only one statement found by the former Director General PSB Dr. Akhtar Gangera in 2016 that,

PSB doesn’t recognize Kho Kho federation and will not issue NOC for South Asian Games in India 2016 but the team got visa and did participate via a secret door and the then DG Sports did not take any action on this federation

despite he did mention in the press news that this federation is taking 50 -60 thousand from players.

Later on electronic media exposed Kho Kho team to be found fake.

Recently Noushad Ahmed remained successful trickily to collect a grant of Rupees Eight hundred thousand (Rs. 800,000/-) by Secretary Sport Sindh Imtiaz Ali Shah

to participate in 4th South Asian Games from 7-12 March 2020 which is postponed due to Covid-19.

Sports Link thoroughly checked from own sources and came to know that among five unfamiliar sports federations Sepak Takraw is more active than others and some unknown Pakistani players male & female are taking part in World Sepak Takraw Championships

South Asian and South East Asian Championships with a mocking performance like a street level play,

finishing always in the first round. This is in practice since 1994.
Search disclosed the following facts:-

1. Their basic structure of all these fake federations is not found in the entire country as per national sports policy of Pakistan Sports Board i.e Clubs, Tehsil, District, Provincial and National bodies along with their regular tournaments at all stages.
2. All these games have specific play grounds which are never seen in four provinces of Pakistan.
3. They directly appeared in King”s Cup World Championships of Sepaktakraw, Bangkok many times and other Asian Championships. Every time they introduced new players in the contingent with a large number male & female whose national level playing profile is not existing?
4. As per rule, this game can be played by three players with two substitute total could be 5-6 while in team event you can double it for separate games but this federation is touring with more than 30 players in a contingent all the time which is not justified. Is it a joy trip or human smuggling?
5. It is a matter of deep consideration that every country’s team consist on minimum six to maximum ten players. List attached.
6. Every time the team squad comprises on the players from Karachi only while a city can’t represent a country. No nationwide trials taken ever known.
7. How could a journalist can hold the key post of the Manager of women team? He doesn’t have any playing profile. His name is highlighted in the list attached.
8. Media Chairman, Dr. Muhammad Arif Hafeez also adjusted on technical post as the women team coach?
9. Further nine (09) coaches are observed in two tours. Quite unjustified.
   10.Two (02) coaches, media chairman and a journalist were detained for a six (06) member women team in world cup 2018 while the men team has their own coaches. What is their credibility for being as a trainer?
10. Since 1994 this practice is continue and only players from Karachi are taking part at international tournaments including a large number of female players in the team, which is suspicious.
    12.These five so called federations are under the control of an individual named as Noushad Ahmed Khan who have key designations in all offices with his “same contact details” captured as solid proof. (Attached)
    It is a matter of thinking “whither only one man is capable to hold the five federations among 22 billions population country?” Certainly no answer.
    Sports Links contacted with Noushad Ahmed Khan, he kept us in chicanery for two days with no satisfactory answer. He remained in asking about the person who exposed them. Noushad claimed that we are promoting sports in the country then why peoples are worried? He did not disclose about the silent president of the federation, Saad Usmani, the Pan Frosh but Sports Link found its location, he is the father-in-law of Noushad’s brother and his name never came on front.
    For many other questions about nationwide or provincial bodies, selection of player from Karachi only, national or local tournaments etc. he remained silent and referred us to talk with the Dr. Muhammad Arif Hafeez, the Chairman Media Committee of the federations. Sports Link got information from our own sources that he is a doctor by profession running a local clinic and also works for a local newspaper in Karachi.
    Dr. Arif Hafeez admitted about the sponsorship amount Rs. 800,000/- received from Secretary Sports Sindh for South Asian Championship Bangladesh and we were about to leave but, Covid-19 cancelled the activity. He was scarred and said, I am media chairman of only one Sepak Takraw not for others games and I do not know about them. He said selling Pan Cigarettes is a business of the president of the federation but I never met him. I am responsible for news only, team selection don’t concern with me. Regarding appointed as the women team coach he didn’t answer. He claimed that we are affiliated with Sindh Olympics Association and tours of Ali Ahmed Rajput with the team. About affiliation with
    SOA, he did not provide any document in this regard. Now the contact numbers of Dr. Arif Hafeez and Noushad Ahmed are closed and not taking calls.
    Sports Link also contacted Secretary Sport Sindh Imtiaz Ali Shah who confirmed the sponsorship grant to the Sepak Takraw Federation but does not know much more about this federation. Later on from own sources Sports Link got information that Rs. 510,000/- were given for tickets to Al-Asr Travels, Sadder Karachi and Rs. 270,000/- credited in the account of Sindh Sepak Takraw Federation, rest not found.
    It is a serious matter that Pakistan is losing identity in main sports where people are making unfamiliar sports federations without basic structures and throwing away the sports policy of the government of Pakistan in this regard. It is still in riddle that how many of them returned back or enjoying human trafficking because it is unbelievable that only one city Karachi is producing more than 30 different international players every time. Inclusion of incapable of girl’s player may open a new box. FIA, POA and PSB must take the case on priority with high level investigations to catch the offenders who are responsible for this ignominy through sports.
    Sports Link suggest seek urgent action from the Minister of ICP dealing in sports, Dr. Fahmida Mirza should intervene the matter immediately by putting a ban on the federations and the mysterious key men who are not following the instructions of government policy. Issue stern order to stop the self-finance international participation of all national sports federations. The forthcoming tour of this federation for France in July – August 2020 may be treated as disallowed for which Noushad is collecting money Rs. 300,000/- from each player, according to our source information.
    PSB should not allow or issue NOC to take part at international for such federations which include incapable players or irrelevant technical staff in their squad.
    Further POA must check the involvement of its unit Sindh Olympics Association as these shadowy federations with no Olympic status are in operation since long. It is the duty of POA to introduce neat and clean sports for a better image of Pakistan. POA should supports the drowning Olympics games in which Pakistan
    was recognized with marvelous global achievements in the past. Our national game Hockey and squash are shattered.
    FIA should take notice of these trips with large squad exceeding the limit of a team mandatory. This can open the doors of human smuggling run-through. The investigation must be clean and result oriented. Earlier in 2011 the FIA Islamabad did call the culprits from Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) who were barred and fined by Badminton World Federation (BWF) regarding bogus entry case in different countries but inquiry abounded without conclusion and now they are holding the key designation in PBF, while Pakistan remained suspended to take part in international events for three years under stern action taken by BWF.
    Sport Link is after to reveal details regarding Pentanque & Sports Blouse, Chilone and Soft Tennis,kho kho federations at the earliest.