Pakistan hockey coach Veldhof eyes long-term rebuild

Pakistan hockey coach Bob Johan Veldhof says the national side is still in the early stages of a rebuild and that the FIH World Cup is arriving before the team has had enough time to prepare fully. Speaking to Dawn, the Dutchman said the longer-term goal for Pakistan is the Asian Games, while the World Cup will be used as part of the team’s development process.

Pakistan, four-time former World Cup champions, are in Pool D for the 16-team tournament co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. They will face England in their opening match on August 15 at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, then play Wales on August 17 at the same venue before meeting India on August 19.

Focus remains on long-term planning

Veldhof, who joined the Pakistan Hockey Federation last month along with assistant coaches Christopher Bowen and Adnan Zakir, said a strong side cannot be built in a very short time. He said the coaching group has a two-year plan and believes Pakistan can improve if that plan is followed consistently.

The coach also pointed to recent results as a sign that progress is possible. He noted that Pakistan had endured 26 straight defeats in international competition before winning their last three matches against South Korea. For Veldhof, that run suggests the side is moving in the right direction even if the team is not yet ready to peak at the World Cup.

Pakistan heads to the Netherlands on August 9

The Green-shirts, led by Abu Bakr Mahmood, are scheduled to leave for the Netherlands on August 9. Their group stage will test them quickly, with England, Wales and arch-rivals India all sharing the same pool.

For Pakistan hockey, the immediate challenge is to compete with discipline while continuing to build cohesion under new coaching staff. Veldhof’s comments make clear that the team’s current mission goes beyond one tournament result and is tied to a broader rebuild ahead of the Asian Games in Japan later this year.