Movahedi’s contract may not be renewed for financial crunch

KARACHI: Financial constraints are likely to compel Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) not to renew the contract of its Iranian coach Hamid Movahedi who has been performing well.

‘The News’ has learnt through highly credible sources that the government has refused to help the PVF in extending Movahedi’s contract. The sources said that the Iranian had been drawing 7000 dollars and that Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) had been giving 4500 dollars out of that. The remaining was being managed by the PVF.

Movahedi is in Bangkok where he fielded Pakistan’s two teams in the Asian Under-21 Beach Championships.Pakistan reached the final qualifying round for the Under-21 World Beach Championships to be held in Bangkok in June.

Pakistan finished ninth in the continental event. The team’s return got delayed for one day because the air-space had been closed for all flights. A source in the PVF said that the team would reach Pakistan on Friday (tomorrow).

A PVF official said that Movahedi had instilled a new life in Pakistan’s volleyball during his two-year association with the PVF. “We don’t want to lose him as he has delivered very well. We will talk to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA). Let’s see what we can do,” the PVF source said.

Movahedi himself is also not happy with the way the sport is being handled in Pakistan by the government. Movahedi’s contract expires on March 31. He joined Pakistan team in April 2017.He is credited for teaching the boys modern volleyball techniques.It was due to his coaching that Pakistan defeated China and India in the Asian Games held last year in Indonesia.