Hockey: Hanif now wants coaching role
As the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) mulls over the national team’s future, Olympian Hanif Khan has offered becoming a coach, saying that he was capable enough to guide the team towards progress.
The PHF is considering changes in the team management set-up after the Greenshirts’ failure to bag a medal at this year’s London Olympics. A review of the campaign is expected to result in changes in the management and the selection committee besides a shake-up in the team ahead of the Champions Trophy in December.
However, Hanif, who was contracted as the chief selector till the Olympics, expressed his interest to continue with the PHF.
“I want a coaching role in the Pakistan team,” Hanif told The Express Tribune. “I say this because I have expertise in coaching. I’m still involved in coaching the youngsters as I prefer to go on the field. I cannot make tall claims that I can change the team’s fortune overnight. But I can assure the gradual progress of team and better results at the next Olympics.”
Hanif disagreed with fellow Olympians who feel the federation has also failed to produce a good back-up of players.
“First of all, it’s not the PHF responsibility. We weren’t products of any PHF academy. We still have a lot of talent which needs fine-tuning. Unfortunately, our youngsters were not guided properly in the basics.”
Meanwhile, taking a u-turn on his earlier stance, Hanif showed willingness to continue as the chief selector.
“The priority is to serve Pakistan hockey. I am ready to retain my position in the selection committee if my service is needed.”
Olympians to hold pro PHF demo
In another twist, former hockey players are planning to hold a demonstration at the Karachi Press Club to favour the PHF policies, countering fellow Olympians who are campaigning to remove the federation’s top officials.
“This PHF has done a lot of good work which should be mentioned,” a former player said, adding that the demo will be held within a week.
Olympians Hasan Sardar, Salim Shewani and Danish Kalim are expected to join the pro PHF campaign.
PHF confident of hosting India first
Meanwhile, the PHF top officials are confident of hosting India first when the bilateral series between the two neighbouring countries is revived next year.
PHF President Qasim Zia and secretary Asif Bajwa will hold talks with Hockey India (HI) to finalise the terms of the series in the first week of October. Both top officials were issued Indian visa for the trip.
According to an official close to the top management, the PHF will press hard in order to host the series first.
“Both the president and secretary are confident of convincing their counterparts,” said the official.
The HI invited the PHF to revive the bilateral series on a home-and-away basis last month. The ties between the archrivals were halted in 2006.
Hanif Khan
“I want a coaching role in the Pakistan team. I say
this because I have expertise in coaching. I’m still involved in coaching the youngsters as I prefer to go on the field.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2012.
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PHF.. dont go the way of hiring the seniors for coaching. Introduce modern hockey training methods and a foreign coach. Then stick to it. You will see the differences soon.