Pakistan to hire Dutch hockey coach Roelant Oltmans?

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is looking forward to celebrated Dutch hockey coach Roelant Oltmans once again take charge of the national team before the Commonwealth Games in Australia this year. A reliable source said Tuesday that Oltmans, who has coached the team before in 2003-2004, was in Oman where Pakistan are playing a triangular tournament with Japan and the hosts. “Oltmans is in Oman to have talks with the PHF president and secretary and if he agrees to take up the new assignment, he will be leading the Pakistan team in the Commonwealth Games in April,” the source added. “He has apparently asked for a few days to make a final decision as he has been heavily involved with Indian hockey at every level since 2013,” the source said. Oltmans was initially appointed High-Performance Director by Hockey India in 2013 but took over as head coach after the ouster of another Dutchman, Paul Van Ass, in controversial circumstances in 2015. Oltmans’ tenure as India head coach ended last September.