Former Pakistan hockey captain and goalkeeper Salman Akbar has joined the Japan hockey team ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup.
Akbar will work with Japan’s goalkeepers for one week as the team prepares for the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands. His short-term assignment will focus on goalkeeping training and match preparation.
Japan are currently in the Netherlands for the World Cup, where they will compete among the world’s leading hockey teams.
Akbar has previously worked with Japan’s goalkeepers. He also coached Japanese goalkeepers during the 2024 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where Japan reached the final and beat Pakistan to win the title.
The former Pakistan international represented his country at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also played at multiple World Cups and Champions Trophy tournaments during his international career.
Akbar won gold with Pakistan at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, where he was named best goalkeeper of the tournament. He also won silver at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, and was twice recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the world during his playing career.
After ending his playing career, Akbar moved into goalkeeping coaching and has worked with players and teams in different countries.
He runs his own goalkeeper academy in the Netherlands, coaches club goalkeepers there, and has served as Japan’s national goalkeeping coach since 2018.
