ISLAMABAD - After getting frustrated from unprofessional treatment rendered to him by the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), Pakistan’s successful squash coach of modern era Jamshed Gul Khan accepted a lucrative coaching offer from the American club.
Talking to The Nation just before his departure along with his family for the US, where he will coach at Lift Time Fitness Squash Club, New Jersey, Jamshed said: “I had a lot of offers from different countries, but I always want to pass on benefit to Pakistanis, as whatever credentials and achievements, I have been enjoying, is just because of my beloved country.
“I had wasted more than two golden years of mine coaching career, as I was given assurances that my services would be required for different projects and for helping the Pakistani squash youth, but after realising that my services are no longer required, I was left with painful option of once again moving abroad for coaching assignments,” he added. Jamshed said he had a great number of lucrative offers during his stay with national team. “Even Malaysia, where I had already coached, was offering me to rejoin, but I turned down all such offers just for the sheer love of my country and squash, as I have already earned a lot of respect and money while coaching in different countries.”
“Being World Squash Federation (WSF) qualified referee, I accepted to coach Pakistani players with a mission and challenge to help them excel at highest level and by the grace of Almighty, I succeeded in achieving my targets to larger extent and when I was about to achieve my main aim of retaining lost squash glory for Pakistan, the PSF sacked me as head coach, and since then Pakistan players have been struggling to excel at international levels,” he added. Stressing upon the role of media regarding promotion of any sport, Jamshed said: “Squash was not getting proper and due coverage, but the way, local media and especially The Nation gave ample space to squash, was truly remarkable and highly appreciable. I always feel without media support, this sport could never flourish in Pakistan again.”
Speaking about his feats as head coach, Jamshed said: “I helped the national team win Asian Senior Team Squash titles twice and Asian Junior Team Championship title once while three players Danish Atlas Khan, Syed Ali Mujtaba Bokhari and Tayyab Aslam managed to win Asian Junior Individual Squash titles from 2102 to 2014 and by the grace of Almighty, Aamir Atlas Khan managed to win Asian Senior Individual Squash Title in 2014, after a gap of almost 15 years. During my tenure as a coach, I helped Pakistan finish twice runners-up in World Junior Team Squash Championship and it was me who took Pakistan to 10th place in Senior World Team Squash Championship from a disgusting 22nd place finished. We could have finished in top 4, but lady luck was not in our favour. Pakistan females also performed well in my era, as senior team finished fifth in Asian Junior Team Championship and sixth in Asian Senior Team Championship.”
He said when he took over as head coach, Pakistani players were struggling to break into top 100. “Nasir Iqbal was lying at 130 in PSA rankings, and when he left in 2014, Nasir was at world number 41 and was all set to break into world’s elite group of players. Farhan Zaman was at 170, when I left, he was at world number 54, while I helped Tayyab, Farhan Mehboob and others to break into world’s top 100 players list. The same players were completely written off, but I transformed them into champions, as they created new waves in squash world and were aiming high.”
Jamshed said he had also a lot of offers from locals, who offered him to establish squash academy wherever he wanted. “I could have accepted offers much earlier, but I wanted to serve Pakistan squash. Anyhow, now I am the professional head coach of New Jersey’s biggest club and my focus would be to produce top class champions. Although my family and I would be in USA, but my heart will always remain in Pakistan. I offer all the players, who wanted to train in USA to feel free and contact me. I would more than happy to help them out and that too free of cost. I owe Pakistan and wanted to pay back in the best possible fashion.”
When asked about whether he would consider any offers if contacted by the PSF in near future, Jamshed said: “For the time being no, as I have signed a contract with the club and I am known to keep my promises. When the time is right and I feel I would be given respect, I would definitely love to help Pakistan squash.”