ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has hired the services of prominent Brazilian coach Augusto Sibbatini for one year, Dawn has learnt on Tuesday.

“The coach has signed the contract with the PVF initially on US$3,000 and is likely to join the national squad in the United Arab Emirates,” secretary of the federation Mohammad Afzal said.

Sibbatini has coached several international volleyball clubs in Brazil and Gulf countries during his seventeen-year coaching stint.

“His services will be of great help for an emerging Pakistani squad at the upcoming international assignments,” the official said.

Pakistan's major task ahead is to reach the podium with an aim to clinch gold medal in the South Asian Games and displaying a good performance in the Islamic Solidarity Games slated to be held in Bangladesh and Iran respectively in 2010.

Meanwhile, the PVF has announced a twelve-member squad for the 11th edition of Al-Rashid International Men's Volleyball Championship, starting in the UAE from Thursday.

Pakistan had won a bronze medal in its 10th edition.

The PVF official said that Pakistan would join the hosts UAE, along with Indonesia, Thailand, Bahrain and Oman in the event.

“The squad has left for the UAE today [Tuesday],” he said.

Squad

Zaheer Abbas (captain), Shah Rukh, Pir Bakhs Yasin, Asif Nadeem, Syed Shujja Abbas, Mohib Rasool, Imdad Hussain, Nasir Khan, Ali Abbas, Farooq Khan, Munir Khan and Mohammad Ismail Khan.

Officials

Zafar Abbas Lak (chef de mission); Mohammad Jameel (head coach) and Hassan Mazhar Hussain (assistant coach).