KARACHI, Sept 7: Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth on Thursday said structural as well as financial support to the coaches is the basic ingredient needed if Pakistan hockey officials are serious in regaining past glory.

The Aussie emphasized that it would be impossible to achieve glory without these requirements and none of the top coaches would consider taking up an assignment with Pakistan without them.

“What is needed is a structure of financial support for the players to enable them to be available and to train, prepare and play adequately. Sufficient resources will be needed to enable the team to prepare, both at home and away. The coach has to direct and plan this programme and will need resources to implement it properly.

“The coach should have access to the best available specialists in the area of medicine, physiology, video analysis, conditioning and team management besides a support staff of the coach's choice. Local coaches would be part of such a structure,” the former Australia captain told Dawn from Christchurch.

He said there should be a comprehensive international schedule in place for the team to give the players enough exposure at home and away and to ensure that team remains in shape for major international competitions.

“Without these conditions being fulfilled, no coach of real caliber would be interested in coaching,” said the former star who represented Australia for a record 16 years, winning an Olympic silver in 1976 and World Cup gold in 1986.

Charlesworth, who joined New Zealand Cricket (NZC) last October on a one-year contract as High Performance Manager, hinted that he may be available for Pakistan assignment if he is offered a long-term contract, which should be nothing less than two-year.

Although the former Aussie captain said he had never been approached by Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), he suggested Pakistan should hire coaches for longer terms. “I have never been approached by the PHF for a coaching assignment, although from time to time there have been such speculations. However, if I am approached then the terms and conditions would not be matters I would discuss publicly.”

“I have said repeatedly that Pakistan should appoint coaches for longer terms and, in my opinion, two years should be the bare minimum...I would not even consider anything less. I never speculate on such matters in the absence of specific details...my availability and/or willingness would depend on what is on offer,” said the former Australia coach.

Recently, the PHF secretary Akhtarul Islam nominated former Olympian Shahnaz Sheikh as coach only for a two-month period, which was later endorsed by the then PHF president, Tariq Kirmani. Shahnaz, whose earlier tenure in 1999 saw Pakistan relegated from the Champions Trophy in Brisbane, will be at the helm till the end of the ongoing World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany.

Charlesworth’s comments are significant, particularly in the backdrop of PHF secretary’s recent statements in which he repeatedly emphasized that only a foreign coach equipped with the modern coaching skills can put the sport on track and not the local coaches who lacked modern techniques.

Interestingly, the new PHF president Zafarullah Jamali who took over after Kirmani’s resignation on Aug 22, says he prefers “former stalwarts” for coaching assignment but a foreigner would be hired if PHF has financial resources. Pakistan have been struggling to win a major title since 1994 World Cup which they won under Dutchman Hans Jorritsma.

Surprisingly, Charlesworth said he would be comfortable in the presence of a “selection committee”, adding that it would help in gaining “local” knowledge about the game.

“I have no problems with selection committees as they add diversity to the pool of opinions and much 'local' knowledge. However, the coach must be part of the selection committee and deliberations of the committee must be confidential.”

The Aussie, who helped Hockeyroos – the women Australian team – to win 1996 Atltanta Olympic and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games gold, says Australia has a selection panel but admits that selectors naturally have to watch lots of matches in order to be able to make judgments.

“Any coach in the subcontinent would probably need to convene the panel to be assured of avoiding problems...however in every country there are such problems. Usually they are less public,” he said.

Charlesworth, however, refused to comment when told that presence of a selection committee had made things tougher for the Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans in 2004. “I would not comment on Roelant's problems. Each coach is different,” said Charlesworth.

Akhtar has recently said selection committee would not be abolished even after the hiring of a foreign coach, adding that Oltmans failed to deliver at 2004 Athens Olympics because of short duration of assignment.

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