PHF may increase coach Heuvel''s security

Karachi, Jan 27 (PTI) The Pakistan Hockey Federation mightbe forced to beef up the security of national coach Michel vanden Heuvel after the Dutchman expressed his unwillingness toremain in the country due to the unrest caused in wake of theassassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

Sources in the federation said that the PHF had convincedHeuvel to return to Lahore on February 2 for a meeting todiscuss the revised contract running until 2012 LondonOlympics.

"The PHF is keen to retain the Dutch coach until theOlympics specially after he led the team to their first AsianGames gold medal in 20 years last November in China," a sourcesaid.

He said that the PHF had no real issues with increasingthe financial incentives of Heuvel in the revised contract butwere trying to find out ways to address his security concerns.

"The foreign coach has made it clear to the PHF that hehas serious concerns about his security in Pakistan after theway Salman Taseer was assassinated by his own bodyguard overthe blasphemy law issue.

"Heuvel wants guaranteed security assurances and stillwants a minimum stay in Pakistan while coaching the nationalteam. He has suggested holding some of the training camps inHolland for the national team players as was done before theAsian Games," the source stated.

Another source confirmed that the PHF would be offeringHeuvel round the clock fully trained and armed guards for hissecurity as part of their deal to convince him to continue onas coach.

"Heuvel has told the PHF that he is facing resistanceeven from his family to come to Pakistan in existingcircumstances but indicated that he himself is keen to coachthe team until the Olympics games." PTI Corr SHN