LAHORE - Former hockey Olympian Qamar Ibarhim Tuesday refused to work as coach with the national hockey team citing family problems.
Qamar was initially appointed head coach of the team along with former Pakistan captain Hanif Khan as the manager by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) which soon after the announcement re-designated Qamar as coach and also gave the assignment of head coach to Hanif. "I am fully tied up with a number of family commitments and that is why I am not in a position to take up the job of the coach with the national hockey team," he said.
He added he had sent his regrets to PHF for not accepting the responsibility through an email. Qamar said he was available to PFH whenever his opinion was sought for the betterment of hockey. "As soon as my family commitments are over, I will definitely inform the PHF about my availability," said the former celebrated forward. Qamar said he had informed the PHF timely regarding his decision so that a new coach be appointed to observe the performance of the players in the ongoing national hockey championship to spot new hockey talent. He said he would continue to perform as the tournament director of the national hockey championship till its completion.
Meanwhile, the sources in the PHF said that Qamar became upset and refused to take up the job when the national hockey federation decided to give double responsibility to Hanif by assigning him the job of the head coach and made Qamar as the coach.