Netherlands will play Pakistan during a special charity match for the flood victims in Pakistan. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) fully supports the event organized by the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB). The charity match which will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands on Tuesday 14 September 2010.
The KNHB organizes the event in close collaboration with Hockey club Rotterdam and the Dutch charity organization ‘Samenwerkende Hulp Organisaties (SHO)’. All donations will be deposit in the bank account 555 of SHO. The aim of the charity match is to raise as much funding as possible for the Pakistan people affected by the floods. The Pakistan Hockey Federation and the Pakistan Embassy fully support this initiative.
The FIH will also play a key role, as it requests all its other 125 National Associations to donate for the Pakistan flood victims. FIH President Leandro Negre has written a letter to the NAs and asked them to assist.
Publicity for the match has been generated by Dutch internationals such as captain Teun de Nooijer, during the nationwide fund collecting day on 26 August 2010. The ambassadors of the match acted as phone representatives and are guests on different radio and TV shows.
While the FIH requests its National Associations to donate, the KNHB is asking all hockey clubs in the Netherlands to donate Euro 1 per club member and to collect money through their club. All clubs receive Donations Forms at the start of the Dutch national competition (11-12 September) to distribute among their members. The funds can be deposited directly in the bank account 555 or can be donated on 14 September at hockey club Rotterdam during the charity event. Throughout the evening of the charity match a collection is being made and Donation Forms will be distributed among the visitors.
‘Dutch hockey has a long lasting relationship with Pakistan hockey’, KNHB Director Johan Wakkie said. ‘History proves that The Netherlands have a special link with Pakistan hockey players.’
Several Pakistanis are playing or have been playing in Dutch competitions: goalie Akbar (Larensche M.H.C.), Abbas (H.C. Rotterdam en Amsterdamsche H.& B.C.), Shahbaz (M.H.C. Oranje - Zwart) en Waseem (H.C. Rotterdam). Roelant Oltmans and Hans Jorritsma have been coach of the Dutch as well as the Pakistan national mens team. Currently Michel van den Heuvel is coach of the Pakistan team.
In 1998 the KNHB fund raised Fl. 800.000,- (around Euro 350’000) for Dar Ul Sukun, a charity organization supporting disabled children in Pakistan. In 2005 the KNHB supported a similar nationwide charity event which raised a total amount of Euro 40’000’000 for the earthquake in Pakistan. For the charity match on 14 September, all partners involved are aiming to donate a considerate amount.
‘I hope the global hockey community will respond to the tragedies in Pakistan’, FIH President Leandro Negre said.
Donations can be made to:
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bank account: 31.13.06.012 (Rabobank, Utrecht, Netherlands
