September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will soon hire the services of a foreign hockey coach, a trainer and a goal-keeping coach for the national hockey squad.

Talking to Dawn on Thursday, PHF General Secretary Asif Bajwa said: “We are in contact with hockey players and experts in Australia, Germany and Holland and negotiations are in process for the important jobs with the national hockey squad and the federation.”

Pakistan has had the services of two foreign (Dutch) coaches in the past who gave fairly good results in 1993-94 and again in 2005.

Ealborating on the PHF move, Bajwa said: “I am going to Germany and will have negotiations with various renowned international former hockey players and experts for the development of hockey in the country.

“Foreign Research & Development (R&D) analyst will assist the PHF with his expertise for the development of hockey at the domestic and grassroot level,” said Bajwa.

The former Olympian added that the “analyst will also assist the senior and junior team coaches and will help the PHF to prepare a corps of international level hockey umpires.”

Renowned hockey commentator Zakir Sayed, when contacted about the record of international coaches, said: “Hans Jorritsma, a Dutch coach, was an asset to Pakistan during 1993-94 as Pakistan won major international events under his command.”

During Jorritsma’s tenure, Zakir said, Pakistan won both the World Cup in 1994 and the Champions Trophy. “Jorritsma also brought some of the best physios with him which was an added advantage for the Pakistani hockey squad,” said Zakir.

“Roelant Oltmans was also good a coach as he remained associated with the national squad for around one year and the only thing the greenshirts gained under his tenure was discipline and consistency.

“Currently, we are in need of a qualified international hockey coach for Pakistan, as now coaching is a science and the coach must be a professional with knowledge of modern hockey,” he concluded.