LAHORE, Jan 7: Wouter Tazelaar, the Dutch hockey consultant, hired by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), on his arrival in Lahore on Wednesday said that talent at the junior level was the same in both Pakistan and the Netherlands.

While talking to the media, Tazelaar, who is here on a two-year contract with the PHF said: “I find no difference between the Dutch and Pakistani age group players. They face the same challenges here as the boys in the Netherlands do there.

“We will proceed gradually to reach our goal through working in the academies and by accelerating the coaching programme.”

Speaking of the programme, he informed: “It is not a short-term programme and will take years to produce results. The first ones to be trained are the coaches. Initially, I am going to visit four academies in Punjab within the next 10 days and will conduct a coaching course for the academy coaches.”

On his first day here, Tazelaar imparted training to some 42 short-listed players at the Lahore academy at the National Hockey Stadium. PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa, coaches and selectors from Punjab along with the academy coaches were also present on the occasion.

The PHF is currently in the process of selecting junior players for its 11 academies, to soon start work across the country. The preliminary trials have already been completed and the consultant will be watching the final trials.

Tazelaar will stay in Pakistan till Feb 19 to oversee the taking off of the academies. He cannot stay in Pakistan for longer since he also runs such programmes in various other countries as well and has to provide equal attention to all.