PHF appoints international coaching team to lead Pakistan hockey revival

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has appointed an internationally acclaimed high-performance coaching team as part of its long-term strategy to revive Pakistan hockey and restore the country's position among the world's leading hockey nations.

The federation confirmed that the appointments will become effective once contractual formalities have been completed. Dutch coach Herman Kruis has been named Overall National Hockey Coaching Advisor and Head Coach.

With decades of elite coaching and technical leadership experience, Kruis will lead the development of Pakistan's modern coaching philosophy, oversee technical standards, advise the senior national team management and establish a long-term high-performance pathway for the national programme.

David Dwyer has been appointed Fitness and High-Performance Coach. He will introduce modern sports science practices, strength and conditioning programmes, injury prevention strategies and elite performance management systems to ensure Pakistan's players meet international fitness standards.

The PHF has also named Adnan Zakir as Junior Talent Identification Coach. He will be responsible for implementing a structured nationwide talent identification programme aimed at discovering, nurturing and developing future international players from across Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Bob Johan Veldhof has been appointed Goalkeeping Coach. The experienced goalkeeping specialist will modernise training methods for Pakistan's goalkeepers, introduce specialised coaching programmes and mentor local goalkeeping coaches.

Sports psychologist Chris Bowen will oversee the mental performance programme, focusing on confidence building, leadership, resilience, pressure management, team culture, motivation and psychological preparation for international competition.

According to the PHF, the international coaching staff will work across all Pakistan national teams, including the senior, junior, under-18, youth and women's squads.

Their role will extend beyond preparing teams for international competitions, with a strong emphasis on building a sustainable, world-class hockey development system.

The federation said one of the primary objectives of the appointments is to strengthen Pakistan's coaching infrastructure. The international experts will work closely with local coaches through structured mentoring, technical workshops, practical training sessions, coaching education and continuous knowledge transfer to establish a modern and self-sustaining national coaching ecosystem.

The PHF believes that the revival of Pakistan hockey depends on building a strong technical foundation.

Through the expertise of the newly appointed coaching staff, the federation aims to improve player development, raise coaching standards, strengthen talent identification, enhance physical preparation and introduce world-class high-performance systems across all national teams.

The entire international coaching programme will operate under the strategic supervision of the PHF Development Committee, led by Olympians Hassan Sardar and Islahuddin Siddiqui, who will oversee the implementation of the federation's long-term technical development strategy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Pakistan Hockey Federation described the appointments as the beginning of a new era for the sport in the country.

"These appointments mark the beginning of a new era for Pakistan hockey. We are bringing together international expertise to rebuild every aspect of our game—from player development and sports science to coaching education and high-performance systems," the PFF said.

"Alongside preparing our national teams, these experts will mentor our local coaches and establish a sustainable coaching structure that will benefit Pakistan hockey for generations. The Federation remains fully committed to restoring Pakistan's rightful place among the world's leading hockey nations," it added.