The PHF has announced the appointment of an international coaching team as part of its long-term strategy to rebuild Pakistan hockey. The federation aims to modernize its coaching system and improve the performance of national teams at every level.
According to the federation, the appointments will take effect after all contractual formalities are completed. The new coaching staff will work with Pakistan’s senior, junior, under-18, youth, and women’s teams.
The PHF has appointed Dutch coach Herman Kruis as Overall National Hockey Coaching Advisor and Head Coach. He will be responsible for introducing a modern coaching philosophy across the national program.
His duties include setting technical standards, guiding the senior national team management, and developing a long-term high-performance pathway. The federation believes his international experience will help improve the country’s hockey structure.
David Dwyer has been named Fitness and High-Performance Coach. He will introduce modern sports science methods to improve player fitness and physical performance.
His responsibilities include designing strength and conditioning programs, injury prevention strategies, and elite performance management systems. These measures aim to raise the overall fitness standards of Pakistani players.
To strengthen future talent, the federation has appointed Adnan Zakir as Junior Talent Identification Coach. He will lead a nationwide program to identify and develop promising young hockey players from different regions of Pakistan.
Bob Johan Veldhof has been selected as Goalkeeping Coach. He will modernize goalkeeper training by introducing specialized coaching techniques and structured development programs. He will also mentor local goalkeeping coaches to improve coaching standards across the country.
Sports psychologist Chris Bowen has joined the coaching setup to oversee the mental performance program. His role will focus on confidence, leadership, resilience, motivation, pressure management, and team culture. He will also prepare players mentally for international competitions.
The PHF said the international coaching team will work across all national squads instead of focusing only on the senior side. Officials believe this approach will create a stronger development system for players at every stage of their careers.
The federation also plans to strengthen Pakistan’s coaching infrastructure. International experts will work closely with local coaches through mentoring, technical workshops, coaching education, and practical training sessions. The goal is to ensure continuous knowledge transfer and long-term improvement.
The international coaching program will operate under the supervision of the PHF Development Committee. The committee is led by Olympians Hassan Sardar and Islahuddin Siddiqui, who will oversee the implementation of the federation’s long-term technical development strategy.
Officials said the initiative is designed to build a sustainable hockey system rather than focusing only on short-term results. The federation hopes the combination of international expertise and local coaching development will help Pakistan return to the highest level of international hockey.
In other related news also read PHF Approves Pakistan Hockey Players for Overseas Leagues
Through these appointments, the PHF aims to improve player development, coaching standards, and overall team performance. The federation believes this long-term strategy will create a stronger foundation for the future of Pakistan hockey.
