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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) is all set to rope in a Serbian coach for the national volleyball team by the end of the month, Secretary PVF Muhammad Afzal said on Tuesday.

Talking to APP, Afzal said that the federation was on the hunt for a foreign coach for the past several months and besides holding talks with Serbian coaches it had considered China and Iran for the purpose.

“However, we have finally decided to hire the services of a Serbian coach as they (Serbians) have very high repute as volleyball trainers,” he said.

Pakistan are scheduled to take part in the 13th Al-Rashid International Volleyball tournament in Dubai slated from September 10-15. They will also be taking part in the 16th Asian Seniors Men's Volleyball Championship to be held in Tehran from September 25 to October 3. The top two teams of the Iran event will make it to the World Championship.

“As these two events are very crucial for us we wanted to hire a quality coach well ahead of them,” Afzal said.

According to the secretary, the PVF was awaiting CVs of top Serbian coaches and expressed the optimism that it would be getting those within a week.

“As soon as we get CVs from them we will make no delay in hiring the services of the one who will be more suitable for us.”

He said that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had agreed to provide a monthly package of $4,000 besides other facilities to the coach.

Pakistan hired Augusto Sabbatini, a Brazilian coach, in November 2009 but relieved him soon after the Asian Games in China last year as he failed to put the team on the winning track.