“We haven’t received any requests by Heuvel to bring in his own coaching staff,” the PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa told The Express Tribune. “But if he does, we’ll look into his suggestions and if those recommendations are deemed relevant and in the interest of Pakistan hockey then we’ll definitely fulfil his demand.”
Heuvel is currently assisted by Olympian Ahmad Alam and former International Ajmal Khan but there have been reports that Heuvel has demanded foreign coaching staff that includes a physio and a goal-keeper coach.
According to chief selector Hanif Khan, “If Heuvel deems it appropriate to load his coaching staff with foreigners, I don’t see that as unacceptable. Every coach, local or foreign, brings his own team and if he believes that he is not comfortable with the local coaching staff then there is no harm in bringing in foreign coaching staff.”
Hanif further assured that Heuvel was imparting his coaching according to the Asian style of hockey.“There is a belief that he normally works on a defensive strategy but I’ve observed in the training camp and I’m impressed that he prefers an attacking approach which is very important for the style of hockey that we play.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2010.
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