Mismanagement Plagues Peshawar Sports Complex ; Athletes and Staff Bear the Brunt

Mismanagement Plagues Peshawar Sports Complex: Athletes and Staff Bear the Brunt

by Ghani Ur Rehman

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sports Directorate, headquartered in the Peshawar Sports Complex, has fallen into disrepair due to administrative incompetence.

This negligence has caused numerous problems for the officers and staff of the department, as well as for the athletes and visitors who use the stadium’s facilities.

The placement of individuals with inadequate expertise in critical roles has exacerbated the situation, leading to a decline in the complex’s overall condition.

Despite its modest size, the Peshawar Sports Complex offers facilities for various sports, including cricket, boxing, table tennis, football, athletics, badminton, karate, taekwondo, gymnastics, and hockey.

However, there is no indoor hall for tag ball training, forcing players to practice outdoors where their equipment is vulnerable to damage from the elements. Additionally, the karate hall lacks basic amenities such as drinking water, and broken light bulbs have not been replaced for months, making evening practice challenging for athletes.

The fitness gym, located below the karate hall, is also plagued with issues. The absence of functioning lights creates a dark environment even during the day, prompting numerous complaints from gym members and athletes. Despite repeated requests to the administration for bulb replacements, no action has been taken.

The situation at the Peshawar Sports Complex is dire. The hockey stadium turf is poorly maintained, with no adequate provision for its upkeep. In the badminton hall,

there are more coaches than players, and those who come to practice often find themselves without adequate time due to the influx of people from other departments. As a result, many badminton players have resorted to training in the gymnasium hall of the PSB Coaching Center Peshawar.

The complex’s officials frequently boast about organizing sports events and constructing new facilities, but the reality is that the existing complex lacks even basic infrastructure, such as an indoor hall for volleyball practice.

The road leading to the PSB Coaching Center is frequently blocked, causing inconvenience for both employees and athletes. This disruption negatively impacts volleyball practice, prompting many players to seek alternatives. Similarly, table tennis players are assigned a sports arena that hosts daily events, interfering with their training sessions.

The football ground has become derelict due to incomplete renovation work, and the installation of the tartan track for athletics training has also faced delays, hindering the preparation of both football and athletics players.

The proverb “wisdom is greater than a buffalo” seems apt in describing the administration’s shortcomings. Individuals lacking the necessary skills and experience are placed in important positions,

leading to a deteriorating situation. One notable achievement of the Peshawar Sports Complex administration is the installation of barriers near the main gate, which has created significant parking issues for visitors.

To address these problems, it is imperative that the administration undergoes a thorough overhaul. Long-standing incumbents should be replaced, not merely on paper but with actual transfers of responsibilities.

This is essential for resolving the ongoing issues and restoring the complex to its intended purpose as a hub for sports and athletic development.