LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is most likely to hire the services of an established Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans as he is currently in Oman watching the matches of the three-nation tournament, involving Pakistan, Japan and the host country.
Dawn learnt that Oltmans also had his role in close 2-1 victory of Pakistan against Japan in the three-nation tournament, the other day. It was the first win of Pakistan against Japan after five matches. Japan had won two of five matches, while two ended in draw.
If Oltmans signs the contract with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), it will be his second tenure with Pakistan team as he had first done the job from 2003 to 2004 till Athens Olympics, in which Pakistan finished 5th.
Oltmans has also worked with Hockey India, before he was shown the doors in September last year after a four-year stint first as High Performance Director and later as head coach.
The only big achievement under Oltmans’ tenure of the Indian team was a silver medal in the last Champions Trophy held in England in 2016, after losing the final to Australia.
If Oltmans is hired by the PHF, it will be a big challenge for the Dutchman to lift a team which is currently ranked 13th.
In 2018 Pakistan play in the Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophy, Asian Games and the World Cup.
When contacted the PHF president (retd.) Brig. Sajjad Khokhar, however, said some other foreign coaches were also in the queue and the federation had not yet take any final decision.
Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2018
