Sports

Rasool, Hanif to remain at helm till World Cup

Hussain appointed as goal-keeping coach of Pakistan hockey team.

Fawad Hussain May 21, 2013

It was speculated that Rasool, who took charge before the London Olympics, was considering quitting the post to concentrate on his political career. PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has placed its confidence in the current team management headed by Akhtar Rasool as it decided against making changes to the panel of coaches.

The decision was taken in a meeting between PHF secretary Asif Bajwa, the team’s manager and head coach Akhtar Rasool, coach Hanif Khan and the federation’s consultant Tahir Zaman.

It was speculated that Rasool, who took charge before the London Olympics, was considering quitting the post to concentrate on his political career. However, according to Hanif, Rasool will continue to head the team management.

“There was no decision of a change in the team management,” Hanif confirmed to The Express Tribune. “The coaching panel includes Rasool (head coach) and Ajmal Lodhi (coach), besides me. It was decided to continue till the World Cup.”

Hanif said there was an addition to the panel as former international Arshad Hussain had been appointed as the goal-keeping coach to replace Ahmed Alam. “Arshad has experience and has coached the senior team in the past. We are hoping for an improvement in our defense now.”

Meanwhile, it was also decided to make Zaman, who was mainly associated with the juniors’ team, available to assist the senior squad.

I wanted stability: Rasool

Rasool said his decision to continue as head coach was to ensure stability until the World Cup.

“The change would have not been appropriate with just a year left for the World Cup,” said Rasool. “I’ve decided to serve the country as hockey remains my biggest priority.”

It was also decided to hold a training camp for the senior team in two phases. Pakistan will take part in the International Hockey League and Asia Cup in late June and July in Malaysia and both the tournaments will serve as qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in the Netherlands. The team management decided to hold camps in Abbottabad (May 29 to June 15) and Karachi (June 18-23) before leaving for Malaysia to kick off the team’s preparations for the World Cup.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2013.