ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 The Pakistan Hockey Federation is seriously considering hiring a long-term foreign coach for the national senior squad, till the 2012, Dawn learnt on authority on Friday.

“The PHF is working on this option as there is great pressure from the people and some former Olympians to elevate the level of the game and the only way forward is by hiring a well reputed foreign coach for a long period of time,” said a top government official on condition of anony- mity.

The PHF has recently appointed former Pakistan goalkeeper, Olympian Shahid Ali Khan as the new head coach of the national side.

Since the Prime Minister is Patron of the PHF, the official said, the Prime Minster Secretariat is also quite concerned over the decline of hockey standard in Pakistan.

“The whole world witnessed Pakistan hockey squad's Beijing Olympic Games debacle. ”

Pakistan finished eighth among the 12-nation hockey playing countries in the historic Olympic Games.

“The game is becoming more technical and scientific so a long-term strategy is the need of the hour to rescue and regain the international standard of the greenshirts,” the official pointed out.

Pakistan has had the services of two foreign [Dutch] coaches in the past who gave fairly good results in 1993-94 and again in 2005.

In 1993-94 during Hans Jorritsma's tenure Pakistan had won both the World Cup in 1994 and the Champions Trophy while under Roelant Oltmans during 2005 the squad gained consistency and was more disciplined.

Currently the federation is also assisted by a Dutch consultant Wouter Tazelaar.

“Our main aim is to reach the podium in the 2012 Olympic Games but this task can only be achieved with modern, strenuous and physical training also involving scientific methodology,” said the official.

When contacted for comments the official spokesman of the PHF said “The coach is to stay till Asia Cup. The president and secretary of the PHF had clearly mentioned time and again that there will be no change at the moment.”

The spokesman asserted “A permanent team management will be announced after the Asia Cup.”