Pakistan hockey elevates goalkeeping coach to head coach days before World Cup

Pakistan will enter the FIH World Cup with goalkeeping coach Bob Johan Veldhof as their head coach after Herman Kruis returned to the Netherlands to continue with his existing assignment.The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced the change just hours before the Pakistan squad left for the World Cup. Kruis, who had initially been appointed head coach, will instead work as an adviser to the federation, while Veldhof will take charge of the national team.The PHF had brought in the Dutch coaching group of Kruis, Veldhof and Christopher Bowen after the FIH Pro League in Europe in June-July. They were appointed as head coach, goalkeeping coach and assistant coach respectively as part of a change to Pakistan's coaching staff.Kruis had told the PHF that he would only be able to take up a full-time coaching role with the Pakistan team after the World Cup, news agency PTI reported, quoting a source.“He had left for the Netherlands to continue with his present assignment, but the PHF remained hopeful that he would still be available to the team during the World Cup, which is being held in Belgium and the Netherlands,” a source was quoted as saying by PTI.Kruis later made it clear that he would not be able to work full-time with the Pakistan squad during the tournament. The PHF then decided to hand the head coaching role to Veldhof instead of appointing a former Pakistan player.Former Pakistan Olympian Farhan Khan said Veldhof's lack of experience as a head coach could be a concern.“Veldhof will no doubt be invaluable for our goalkeepers, but his lack of experience as a head coach is a concern. In modern hockey, the head coach calls all the shots with the help of his assistant coaches and video analyst,” Khan said.Pakistan, four-time world champions, will now begin the tournament with Veldhof, who was originally brought in to work specifically with the team's goalkeepers, leading the coaching staff.Pakistan are in Pool D alongside India, England and Wales. They will begin their campaign against England at the Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen on August 15.The 16 teams have been divided into four pools of four. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the second round.The top two teams from each of the two second-round pools will qualify for the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will meet in the final.The FIH World Cup will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.