Erich foresees a good future for the successful participants
Lahore, 14 November : Modesty is the most important characteristic of a successful coach, according to Pakistan Olympic Association (POA)’s Abdul Khaliq Khan today. Speaking to coaches at the closing ceremony of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Solidarity Technical Course , held at Lahore’s FIFA Football House from 3 – 14 November 2008, Chief Guest Khaliq said a coach must be willing to learn new things and recognize his own mistakes if he is to improve.
“In my opinion, humility is the quality of a coach that I consider most important,” he said. “A coach must continually educate himself in all aspects of football.” said Khaliq.
The 12-day Course provided coaches with a general understanding of footballing strategies, including the zonal concept, youth development, offence, defence and effective training. Course Conductor Erich Rutemöller, Chief Instructor of the German Soccer Association (DFB), also dedicated one session for an open discussion of the coaching methods. The participants also underwent practical and theory lessons as well as having a question and answer session, besides match analysis when 29 participants were available during Pakistan Premier Soccer League match at Railway Stadium.
PFF’s Secretary General Lt.Col (R) Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi foresees a good future for the successful participants and said that under Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat the soccer activities have been raised to such an extent that after FIFA, AFC, IOC had decided to conduct Course on Pakistani soil for soccer coaches.
“Olympic Solidarity reflects the Olympic ethic of which the basic notions are generosity, understanding and international cooperation, cultural exchanges, the development of sport and its educational aspects and the promotion of a society concerned with human dignity and peace,” Lodhi summed up.
“They can go on to next qualification stage and generally look forward to a good career as a coach. They have gone through a very tough days and shown plenty of commitment and desire.” said Erich who added that Olympic Solidarity, founded in 1961, exercises this responsibility in accordance with the specific programmes of technical financial assistance approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission. It assists National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with the efforts for the development of sport through programs carefully devised to match their specific needs and priorities.” Erich also praised the present management of PFF for tremendous arrangements and big round of applause went into the air when energetic PFF Coordinator Imtiaz Butt received his certificate. Erich concluded his speech with famous words of UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh ” Carry the ball close to your heart.”
Later on, POA Secretary and others presented twenty-nine participants to Lt.Col. Muhammad Nauman Khan (Army), Muhammad Asghar, Malik Sher, Shaista Laghari (Balochistan), Gohar Zaman, Muhammad Saleem (NWFP), Akhtiar Ullah (AJK), Hassan Baloch, Sadia Sheikh, Rashid Ahmed (Sindh), Sajjad Mehmood (KRL), Muhammad Hussain (Navy), Muhammad Rashid, Umer Farooq (Railways), Mujeeb Ur Rehman (PMC), Nasim Ahmed (SSGC), Tanveer Ahmed, Bilal Ahmed Butt, Kirin Illyas (WAPDA), Tanveer Ul Hassnain (PTB), Asghar Khan Anjum (PEL), Ejaz Ahmed Kaka, Zahid Niaz (PIA), Muhammad Habib, Noman Ibrahim, Samera Aftab, Ishrat Fatima, Faisal Khan (Punjab), Javed Ali Soomro (HEC).