ISLAMABAD, May 7: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has hired an Iranian coach for a year after losing the services of Bulgarian coach Stefan G. Dimitrov who left last year as the country was facing a tough security situation.

The Iranian coach, Ali Reza Moameri, is due to reach Islamabad on Saturday.

Besides imparting training to both junior and senior national teams, the Iranian coach will also be responsible for selecting and training the youngsters selected in the PVF youth programme.

Moameri will train the national players for the 14th Asian Junior Volleyball Championship, to be held in Iran from Aug 23 to Sept 1.

PVF President Chaudhry Yaqoob told Dawn that Dimitrov had been hired on a one-year contract. But, Yaqoob added, later he informed the federation of his inability to continue the job as the national coach, citing personal reasons.

Under Dimitrov, Pakistan won the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Volleyball Championship in August 2007 in Kolkata, India, besides claiming the fourth spot at the Asian Central Zone Championship held in Islamabad in June.