PHF to hire a foreign coach at last for structural development](http://www.phf.com.pk/news_detail.php?ID=461)
Pakistan Hockey Federation, it seems has finally decided in principal to hire a foreign coach following the resignation of manager Rashid Junior after losing to India in the final of the recently concluded Asia Cup hockey tournament. According to a source of this scribe based in Netherlands, a Dutch coach is scheduled to fly to Pakistan this week to finalize the contract details with PHF.
Appointed in July this year, Rashid junior cited the old lame excuse of domestic problems for resignation. He in league with coach Tahir Zaman had made a good mark by effectively combining the forward line to generate coordinated attacks that helped Pakistan to loose only one match and securing bronze medal in the 2003 champions trophy held in August this year.
It was then thought that Pakistan team would be able to win the Aisa Cup and secure a direct ticket to the Athens Olympics but it was not to be. Rashid Junior’s resignation has sent shock waves into hockey circles and many eye brows have been raised .
Although Rashid Junior in a press statement is quoted as saying that " I have resigned of personal reasons and I don’t want to create any controversies but my decision is not sudden". Rashid saying that his “decision was not sudden” suggests that there may have been reasons behind his resignation that he does not want to disclose.
The secretary PHF Brig.( R) Musarrat Ullah Khan when asked to comment on Rashid’s resignation, said that it is very unfortunate to have frequent changes in the team management and PHF in no way wants things to move in this manner as such changes effect the team spirit as well as bring uncertainty among the hockey fans and followers.
Musarrat went on to say that whenever a person is given a national responsibility, he must first think of all the pros and cons as when it comes to national duty, one has to make lots of sacrifices. PHF had given responsibility to Shahnaz Shaikh but after Azlan Shah cup earlier this year, he started saying that his business venture of hockey sticks was getting effected , thus he quit on personal reasons, Musarrat said.
In a strong worded reaction, Musarrat further said that either our former players should not be taking responsibilities or once they took it, they should be brave enough to face challenges, make sacrifices, show tolerance and exhibit sense of wisdom while thinking of resignation. Similar was the case with Rashid Junior who first agreed to take up the job and now suddenly left because of domestic reasons.
Musarrat went on to say that this is not a joke or a matter relating to a club team that you accept one day and leave the other day. Our officials have been taking things for granted by accepting the appointments and then leaving it for personal grounds, completely disregarding the national interest, Musarrat opined.
Such resignations then create atmosphere of speculations suggesting that the manager left because of differences with other team and PHF officials to create confusion. We have discussed this issue very seriously at length with President PHF Gen. Muhammad Aziz Khan and have reached to the conclusion that our team officials have been taking the PHF and hockey team for granted and we must bring this to an end.
We are now going to adopt a policy whereby a manager or coach will be bound by a contract so that he can not leave the national team when he is much needed. Soon you will hear that a foreign coach will arrive on a long term basis who would not only coach the senior team but would help in the overall structural development in Pakistan by imparting training to junior players and conduct coaching courses, Musarrat concluded.
Though Musarrat refused to disclose the name or nationality of the foreign coach, a source in Netherlands has confirmed to this scribe that a Dutch coach is due to fly to Pakistan this week who enjoys the unique distinction of winning three major events in his tenure . The Dutch coach who is expected to take the charge of the team is said to be Mr. Roelant Oltmans who won the won 1996 Olympic gold, 1998 World cup and 1998 champions trophy.