Coaches’ appointment questioned
Former tennis players want a local trainer instead of foreign.
KARACHI:
Pakistan’s former Davis Cup players and coaches have expressed reservations on Pakistan Tennis Federation’s (PTF) decision to appoint Indian Birbal Wadhera and US-based Jalil Riaz as short-term coaches.
The PTF had announced that Wadhera will train the top four female players and the under-14 players and will also conduct workshops for the local coaches. Meanwhile, Riaz has been lined up to train the Davis Cup squad for a month before Pakistan’s tie against South Korea in July.
PTF Secretary Mumtaz Yousuf had said that the federation has appointed the duo to improve the standard of the game in Pakistan.
However, former Davis Cup player and coach Rashid Malik, who is training players like Asian junior number six Iman Qureshi and Pakistan junior number one Heera Ashiq, feels that whatever the PTF is spending on the foreign coaches should be utilised properly.
“I feel that there are qualified coaches in Pakistan,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “I encourage the PTF to invest in the players but whatever package they are offering to foreign coaches, it should come to those available in Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, former Davis Cup player Khaliq Saddiq, echoed Malik’s views, saying that he felt that local coaches were better qualified. According to Saddiq, Mohsaf Zia should continue as coach for the Davis Cup since he was a part of the team that won against Hong Kong. On the other hand, International Tennis Federation coach Mahboob Khan said that both Wadhera and Riaz cannot be termed proper coaches.
“Wadhera is an ITF referee whereas Riaz works as a basketball coach in Atlanta,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2011.
Pakistan’s former Davis Cup players and coaches have expressed reservations on Pakistan Tennis Federation’s (PTF) decision to appoint Indian Birbal Wadhera and US-based Jalil Riaz as short-term coaches.
The PTF had announced that Wadhera will train the top four female players and the under-14 players and will also conduct workshops for the local coaches. Meanwhile, Riaz has been lined up to train the Davis Cup squad for a month before Pakistan’s tie against South Korea in July.
PTF Secretary Mumtaz Yousuf had said that the federation has appointed the duo to improve the standard of the game in Pakistan.
However, former Davis Cup player and coach Rashid Malik, who is training players like Asian junior number six Iman Qureshi and Pakistan junior number one Heera Ashiq, feels that whatever the PTF is spending on the foreign coaches should be utilised properly.
“I feel that there are qualified coaches in Pakistan,” Malik told The Express Tribune. “I encourage the PTF to invest in the players but whatever package they are offering to foreign coaches, it should come to those available in Pakistan.”
Meanwhile, former Davis Cup player Khaliq Saddiq, echoed Malik’s views, saying that he felt that local coaches were better qualified. According to Saddiq, Mohsaf Zia should continue as coach for the Davis Cup since he was a part of the team that won against Hong Kong. On the other hand, International Tennis Federation coach Mahboob Khan said that both Wadhera and Riaz cannot be termed proper coaches.
“Wadhera is an ITF referee whereas Riaz works as a basketball coach in Atlanta,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2011.