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Pakistan hockey coach resigns

Source: PTI
August 28, 2008 14:38 IST
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Pakistan hockey team's disastrous performance in the Beijing Olympics has taken another toll with coach Naved Alam following chief coach Khawaja Zakauddin in stepping down from his post.

Announcing his resignation, Alam said the Olympic debacle is a collective failure and the federation should not start a witch hunt of senior players.

"I wouldn't get into any blame game but the bottom line is we didn't perform well at all and I owned my responsibilty. But I am still hopeful for the future and the federation should avoid starting a witch hunt against senior players," he said.

Pakistan registered one of its worst performances in the Olympic Games finishing eighth and this has already led to chief coach and manager, Khawaja Zakauddin stepping down owning responsibilty for the poor show by the team.

Alam also strongly spoke out against the appointment of a foreign coach and said the federation just needs to take concrete and long term measures to put the sport back on the right track.

"In the past we have had problems with foreign coaches as our style of hockey is different I would suggest depending on a local coach to get us out of our present position," he said.

Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary, Asif Bajwa who was appointed by the sports ministry just two weeks before the Olympics, has already said the team that went to Beijing was not his and he had no responsibility for its performance.

Bajwa is expected to announce major changes in the team and federation's management this week.

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