Pak's Dutch hockey coach likely to snub training camp over security concerns

Lahore(ANI): Pakistan hockey team's Dutch coach Michel Van Den Heuvel has expressed dissatisfaction over the security being provided to him, and is unlikely to join the national team's Abbottabad training camp, starting from August 11.

However, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) claims that after their assurances, Van den Heuvel has agreed to come over for a short span before moving back to his country and join the team in Holland.

"The camp will start on August 11 and Michel Van will be here in time to organize the camp," The Nation quoted a PHF official, as saying.

According to reports, the cash-strapped PHF is holding the second phase of the camp in Holland after Van den Heuvel's suggestion.

It is said that Van den Heuvel feels that the facilities in a European country are much better than the ones in Pakistan, and there he would not be facing any security concerns.

The two-phase training camps are part of Pakistan team's preparations for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games.

Before Van den Heuvel, the PHF had offered the job to German coach Paul Lissek and Australian Barry Dancer, but both turned down the offer because of security concerns.

Van den Heuvel is Pakistan's third foreign hockey coach after Hans Jorritsma (1994) and Roelant Oltmans (2000).