LAHORE: The seasoned Dutch coach of Pakistan hockey team Roelant Oltmans resigned from his post here on Saturday citing problems with the current environment of the game and his inability to bring good results.

President Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Sajjad Khokhar, when contacted, however denied the reports and said Oltmans has left for home to attend some family matter and they are in constant touch with him and want him to continue till the World Cup. “We are going to inform you within the next two days about the exact situation but Oltmans is very much with us,” he said.

However, the Dutch official’s tweet about parting ways from national hockey team pretty much spilled the beans.

Oltmans had signed a two-year agreement with the PHF in February this year. While the Pakistan team failed to click during his short tenure, he did succeed in reducing the margin of defeats of the national team. However, the national team’s pathetic performance in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta came as a huge disappointment and drew calls of an overhaul from the hockey circles all over. Oltmans, 63, first joined the Pakistan team in 2004 but he failed to earn any big title for Pakistan except a gold medal at the Asian Games. For his second term, Oltmans joined Pakistan team on March 7 this year and his first assignment was the Champions Trophy which was held in London. Pakistan finished at the bottom in the six-nation contest followed by another dismal show in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia where Pakistan ended up a poor seventh after managing tto beat only Canada.

Later on, a letter from Oltmans which has perhaps been addressed to the players rather than the PHF top brass, explained his point of view to some extent.

“Dear Gentlemen, after long reflections on the past half year, I have decided to resign as head coach of the Pakistan Team,” said the letter. “I’m responsible for the performance and the results of the team. But I feel that the circumstances at present doesn’t create an environment where we can get the best of the team.

“I don’t think the PHF has the possibility to change the circumstances to a level that is required from my point of view. I thank you all for your contribution and I will always remember the past half year.

“Hope to see you in the future and don’t hesitate to contact me whenever you feel. Kind regards, Roelant Oltmans.”

With the Hockey World Cup just three months away, Pakistan is facing a stiff challenge and even if a new head coach joins in, he is unlikely to do wonders with the national side which is performing well below the required standards.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2018