Opinions split over Jamshed Gul's sidelining
Pakistan Squash Federation remove the post of national coach
KARACHI:
A majority of the players have voiced their reservations over the Pakistan Squash Federation’s (PSF) decision to abolish the post of national head coach – a post which was occupied by Jamshed Gul – and opting to assigning trainers with players instead.
The news came as a blow since Gul had been delivering successfully for Pakistan squash, helping the country clean sweep at the Asian level in the last three years while getting winning results in the men’s category in both the juniors and seniors’ competition.
However, the internal politics of the federation along with the backing of more influential players has led to the coach’s exit.
“I’m not happy with the way the PSF has sidelined a coach like Gul at all, because he had been doing his job successfully,” one of Pakistan’s top players told The Express Tribune.
“He was doing a tremendous job helping average players do well for Pakistan. Although the level of many players isn’t good enough, you can’t put the blame on just Gul for that. The federation has taken a wrong decision in abolishing the head coach’s post; they won’t suffer, but the players will.”
Another player said it was the guidance of the national coach that enabled them to come close to the top 50 players in the world rankings despite limited international exposure.
Meanwhile, Asian Senior Individual Champion Aamir Atlas said that although Gul had been doing a good job, his sidelining would not have a significant impact.
“All my success is due to my father and we [my brother Danish and I] look up to him,” said Aamir. “Gul was doing a good job, but I believe the federation must have taken this decision in the best interest of the game.”
When contacted regarding the matter, the federation played down the enormity of the decision.
“We haven’t removed Gul, only the post of coach has been abolished,” said one of the federation’s executive body members. “He can still be called for national camps in the capacity of a squash trainer. In my view, we need trainers who can work with maximum two players at a time — not a coach who looks after 15-20 players simultaneously.”
A majority of the players have voiced their reservations over the Pakistan Squash Federation’s (PSF) decision to abolish the post of national head coach – a post which was occupied by Jamshed Gul – and opting to assigning trainers with players instead.
The news came as a blow since Gul had been delivering successfully for Pakistan squash, helping the country clean sweep at the Asian level in the last three years while getting winning results in the men’s category in both the juniors and seniors’ competition.
However, the internal politics of the federation along with the backing of more influential players has led to the coach’s exit.
“I’m not happy with the way the PSF has sidelined a coach like Gul at all, because he had been doing his job successfully,” one of Pakistan’s top players told The Express Tribune.
“He was doing a tremendous job helping average players do well for Pakistan. Although the level of many players isn’t good enough, you can’t put the blame on just Gul for that. The federation has taken a wrong decision in abolishing the head coach’s post; they won’t suffer, but the players will.”
Another player said it was the guidance of the national coach that enabled them to come close to the top 50 players in the world rankings despite limited international exposure.
Meanwhile, Asian Senior Individual Champion Aamir Atlas said that although Gul had been doing a good job, his sidelining would not have a significant impact.
“All my success is due to my father and we [my brother Danish and I] look up to him,” said Aamir. “Gul was doing a good job, but I believe the federation must have taken this decision in the best interest of the game.”
When contacted regarding the matter, the federation played down the enormity of the decision.
“We haven’t removed Gul, only the post of coach has been abolished,” said one of the federation’s executive body members. “He can still be called for national camps in the capacity of a squash trainer. In my view, we need trainers who can work with maximum two players at a time — not a coach who looks after 15-20 players simultaneously.”