PHF unable to secure foreign hockey coach

LAHORE: Pakistan was compelled to look for a foreign coach after their team crashed to a humiliating last-place finish in the Hockey World Cup in New Delhi last month.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia, admitted that security concerns was the main stumbling block in his efforts to rope in a foreign coach following the team’s poor showing in the New Delhi World Cup.

“We have made up our mind to hire the best possible foreign coach to put our team back on track,” Zia was quoted as saying by ibnlive.in.

“But the biggest problem is security. All the coaches we have sounded out for the job have expressed concerns about their safety. That is something that’s out of our hands,” added the former Olympian.

“Look what happened in Peshawar,” he said referring to a series of blasts in the city.

"It’s a difficult situation."

Zia invited Paul Lissek to Lahore over the weekend but the meeting with the legendary German coach failed to yield the desired results.

Lissek flew back home the same day and though PHF officials have refrained from confirming that the German is unwilling to take up the assignment, chances seem slim that he would sign a contract to coach Pakistan in the current circumstances. “I’m not too sure whether Lissek will be ready to join us,” said Zia.

“Like the other candidates for the job, he too has security concerns,” he added.

Zia said that the current wave of bombings in several part of Pakistan, especially Lahore - where the coach will be staying - has made it difficult for the PHF to finalise a deal with a foreign coach.