Bob Johan Veldhof appointed Pakistan head coach after reshuffling

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has reshuffled its recently appointed foreign coaching staff, elevating Bob Johan Veldhof from goalkeeping coach to head coach as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming FIH World Cup.

The decision places Veldhof in charge of the national side for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.

PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani confirmed the reshuffle, explaining that Herman Kruis, who was initially appointed as the national team head coach and National Hockey Coaching Advisor, will now focus solely on his advisory responsibilities.

Kruis was appointed on July 3 for an initial two-year period. Soon afterwards, Veldhof joined the coaching setup as goalkeeping coach, while David Dwyer was brought in as high-performance coach.

Chris Bowen was assigned a dual responsibility as technical coach and sports psychologist, while Adnan Zakir became the only Pakistani among the newly appointed coaches, taking charge of junior talent identification.

The latest changes have effectively altered the hierarchy of the coaching group just weeks before the World Cup, with Veldhof now taking on the most important technical role.

The PHF has been looking to strengthen Pakistan’s coaching structure as the national team attempts to regain its place among the world’s leading hockey sides.

Veldhof’s elevation also gives him a major challenge on the international stage. With the World Cup approaching, he will be expected to prepare the team tactically while ensuring the players are physically and mentally ready for a demanding tournament.

Wani also provided an update on the role of former Pakistan captain and Olympian Tahir Zaman. Zaman, who was appointed Director High Performance on May 21, will now serve as an adviser to the PHF president.

The latest reshuffle comes at a crucial stage for Pakistan hockey, with the federation relying on its revamped coaching setup to improve the team’s international performances.

With the World Cup only days away, attention will now turn to how quickly Veldhof can settle into his new role and guide Pakistan through one of the sport’s biggest tournaments.