KARACHI: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has struck a deal with Iranian coach Hamid Movahidi initially for six months in a bid to impart top-class training to senior and junior players for international assignments.
The PVF has also finalised a deal of three months with Chinese coach Huanning Li who is expected to arrive in Pakistan soon after getting visa. Huanning, who is serving in Indonesia these days, will train junior players only.
The contract with Movahidi, a former Iran and Nepal coach, was finalised after Iran Volleyball Federation (IVF) assured Pakistan that it would also help PVF in its payment matter to Movahidi, who is a level-III coach.
PVF chairman Chaudhry Yaqoob said that because of the high demand of Movahidi he had written to the IVF that Pakistan would not be able to get his services because of financial issue.
“I had informed the IVF that Pakistan government would give PVF 2,500 US dollars for the coach, while the PVF could add 1000 US dollars. When we showed regret the IVF told us that it would add to the money which Pakistan would pay to Movahidi. I am happy that the Iranian has been hired for six months,” Yaqoob told ‘The News’.
“His contract can be extended and we will see that,” the official was quick to add.
Yaqoob said that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has also endorsed the deal. He added that efforts were being made to enable Movahidi to get Pakistan’s visa as soon as possible.
“We need him as soon as possible as any delay would affect our preparations,” the official said.
“In Iran vacations for Nowruz begin in a few days, so Pakistan’s embassy will be closed for two weeks,” the official added.
It would be after eight years that Pakistan would have a foreign volleyball coach.
Ali Reza Moameri of Iran was the last foreign coach Pakistan hired, way back in 2007-08.
Ali Reza guided Pakistan to a bronze medal, their first, in the 26 years history of the Asian Junior Volleyball Championship in Iran in 2008.
Pakistan, who once had a strong standing in Asia, have always performed well under a foreign coach.
About Huanning, Yaqoob said he had negotiated with him and he was interested in Pakistan duty. “He told me that he had seen Pakistani players and he was interested in coaching them. I have written to him that we will send the ticket and he should get visa as soon as possible and come to Pakistan,” Yaqoob revealed.
Huanning’s deal with the PVF is short because of his likely attachment with China’s national team after three months.
From May 1-9, Pakistan will take part in the Asian Under-23 Championship in Iran.
Pakistan’s camp for this event has already been held at Peshawar. Pakistan senior team will feature in the Islamic Games in Baku from May 12-22.
Pakistan will feature in the Asian Senior Volleyball Championship in July in Indonesia.
Another PVF official said on Wednesday that because of a national level event in Lahore the camp at Peshawar had been halted. He said the players had now started joining it again.
“A few are already in the camp and the rest will join them by tomorrow,” the official said.
