Specialist goalkeeping coach for hockey team

TNN

BANGALORE: Hockey India’s search for a new coach may have gotten tougher. High performance director Roelant Oltmans has made it clear that the hot seat will go to a coach who will continue with the patterns established after the exit of Michael Nobbs.

“During discussions, we will tell potential coaches that this is what we did in the last couple of months and this is the way we will continue. Those with a completely different approach are probably not the right persons to coach the Indian team,” Oltmans said.

The Dutchman also said the men’s team would get a specialist goalkeeping coach for the Asia Cup. “The final details are being worked out. By the first week of August we will have a specialist to work with our goalkeeper for the last part of our preparations for the Asia Cup,” he said.

Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra too confirmed to agencies that they were on the lookout for a foreign expert on a short-term basis.

Three candidates have been shortlisted but South Africa’s David Staniforth is the front-runner for the job. A two-time medallist in the Champions Challenge event, Staniforth was the goalkeeping coach and video analyst of inaugural HIL winners Ranchi Rhinos, agencies reported.

Oltmans pointed out that the focus would also be on junior goalkeepers. Once appointed, the specialist would work until the Junior World Cup to be held in New Delhi in December.