I have a commitment to fulfil, says Heuvel

Pakistan’s hockey coach will return for second phase of training camp.

KARACHI: Amid rumours of his removal, Pakistan coach Michel van dan Heuvel said that he will return to train the squad before the Azlan Shah Cup, scheduled to take place in May, and honour his contract that concludes at the end of the London Olympics.

Heuvel skipped the training camp that started in Lahore last month as part of final preparations for the London event, prompting speculation of his differences with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

While the PHF stated that the coach was undergoing tooth treatment back home, according to an official close to the matter, the Dutch, who was appointed in 2010, was unhappy over selection of the preliminary squad for the mega event and decided to stay away from the training camp.

However, Heuvel declined to comment on reasons for skipping the camp but made it clear that he will return to prepare the team for this year’s Olympics.

“I have a commitment to fulfil,” Heuvel told The Express Tribune from Holland.  “I’m contracted till the Olympics and I’m looking forward to joining the team,” added the coach before dismissing rumours of his resignation.

“I will continue as coach and will return to Pakistan whenever the next phase of the training camp starts. I will not comment any further.”

The second phase of the training camp is expected to start early next month as the team prepares for the Azlan Shah Cup — Pakistan’s last international assignment before the Olympics in July.

Interestingly, his comments follow reports that the PHF was mulling the option to remove Heuvel immediately as head coach after a lack of interest shown in the job by the Dutch.

The reports added that the federation was considering giving the responsibility to manager Khwaja Junaid, currently supervising the training camp, before the Azlan Shah Cup. The name of former coach and current chief selector Olympian Hanif Khan was also mentioned for the post.

It said the PHF was likely to make the announcement after its executive board meeting on March 15.

Meanwhile, Olympian Samiullah Khan believed the change in coach just months before the Olympics will hamper the team’s chances in the event. “The PHF should have assessed the coach’s performance much before.

“Now there’s no time left because a change will affect the continuity of the team with the Olympics being not far away.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2012.