Hockey India appoints strategic coach for men's team

Roger Van Gent will work under Roelant Oltmans.

New Delhi: Hockey India today announced the appointment of Roger Van Gent as the strategic coach for the Indian men's team for the Hockey World League Finals next month and next year's Rio Olympics.

Roger will join the coaching staff of the Indian men's hockey team and assist High Performance Director and Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans.

Van Gent, a Dutch citizen by nationality, embarked on his coaching career after securing FIH high performance coaching qualification in 2000. Since then he has worked with various domestic teams in the Netherlands.

He himself has been a part of the first team of a club, MEP in Boxtel, in the head division of the Netherlands for a decade (1978-88).

"Roger's track record speaks for him and I am happy that he is coming on board in the coaching staff for men's hockey team. He has strong strategic experience and I am sure his inputs will help the team and Roelant in bridging the gaps and work towards a successful campaign for the upcoming Hockey World League and 2016 Rio Olympics," Hockey India Secretary General Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said.

The Indian team is currently training at the SAI centre in Bengaluru and is schedule to take on Australia in a three match Test series starting from November 19 before the Hero Hockey World League Final from November 27.