ISLAMABAD, Jul 28 (APP):Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has appointed renowned Dutch coach Richard de Snijjer as the head coach of the Pakistan women’s national hockey team as part of its long-term strategy to revive and strengthen women’s hockey in the country.
According to a PHF press release issued on Tuesday, De Snijjer brings more than two decades of high-level coaching and player development experience in the Netherlands and Belgium.
He has served as Technical Director at KHC Dragons, Rapid Temse and LMHC Laren, while also coaching leading women’s teams, including HC Rotterdam and Laren. He has also worked with the Dutch youth national teams and several international hockey development programmes.
The federation said De Snijjer would work closely with National Coaching Adviser Herman Kruis and the national coaching staff to improve the technical and physical standards of the women’s team. He will also help create international training opportunities for Pakistani players through European hockey clubs to better prepare them for major global competitions.
The PHF noted that women’s hockey in Pakistan had suffered from decades of neglect, with limited attention given to coaching, infrastructure and international exposure. However, the federation is committed to reversing the trend by establishing a sustainable pathway for girls’ hockey from the school level to the national team.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said the federation was determined to provide the country’s female players with the best possible opportunities.
“Our girls deserve the very best opportunities. With the appointment of Richard de Snijjer and under the guidance of Herman Kruis, we are building a modern, high-performance programme for women’s hockey. The PHF will fully support and encourage our female players, strengthen the talent development pathway from schools to the national team and restore Pakistan’s standing in international women’s hockey,” he said.
