PHF appoints Dutch expert Herman Kruis as National Coaching Advisor
By Nawaz Gohar ; The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially appointed world-renowned Dutch hockey coach and high-performance expert Herman Kruis as the National Coaching Advisor.
According to the PHF, Kruis has initially been secured on a two-year contract. He will formally join the national squad at the commencement of the upcoming Hockey World Cup.
Hailing from the Netherlands, Kruis is a highly acclaimed international figure with decades of elite coaching experience. Over his illustrious career, he has successfully coached and managed national teams and top-tier hockey programs across Europe, Asia, and other global regions. He is widely recognized for designing modern coaching frameworks, nurturing youth talent, reinforcing high-performance programs,
and preparing teams for major international tournaments. Beyond on-field coaching, his expertise encompasses building sustainable hockey structures, conducting coach education, and developing long-term athlete development programs.
In his role as National Coaching Advisor, Kruis will provide strategic counsel and guidance to the PHF to modernize and strengthen the domestic hockey ecosystem. He will work in close coordination with both the senior and junior national teams, assist in introducing advanced coaching methodologies, and help establish a robust, sustainable high-performance framework for Pakistan hockey.
Furthermore, he will collaborate with specialized coaches to offer technical oversight, enhancing the overall infrastructure, coaching pathways, and talent identification and development programs across the country.
Kruis will integrate with the Pakistan team at the start of the upcoming Hockey World Cup, working alongside the existing coaching staff during the transitional phase. Following the World Cup, he will officially lead the planning and preparation of Pakistan’s senior and junior squads for the Asian Games and other major international competitions.
The PHF stated that the appointment of Herman Kruis marks the inaugural step in its comprehensive strategy to onboard international technical experts for the restructuring of Pakistan hockey. The federation announced that additional appointments of world-class coaches and technical experts will be unveiled in the coming months.
Welcoming Herman Kruis to the role, the PHF expressed strong optimism that his vast international experience, technical mastery, and leadership would infuse new direction and energy into Pakistan hockey, ultimately paving the way for the national sport to reclaim its historic glory on the world stage.
