South Africa's Staniforth to coach Indian hockey goalkeepers

Former South Africa player David Staniforth has been appointed goalkeeping coach and strategic analyst of India’s senior and junior men's hockey teams.

The 37-year-old Staniforth, who represented his country in 65 internationals, worked as goalkeeping coach with the South African national side for three years.

Staniforth was also goalkeeping coach and video analyst of Ranchi Rhinos, champions of the inaugural Hockey India League.

Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra said Staniforth's appointment will benefit all the goalkeepers in the core probables immensely.

"Hockey as a sport is about precise strategy and execution, so I believe that Dave's appointment will be significant ahead of the major events including FIH Hockey Junior Men World Cup 2013 and FIH Hockey Senior Men World Cup 2014," said Batra.

Staniforth exuded confidence of preparing Indian goalkeepers well for the tough assignments ahead.

"I am very happy with my new role with the Indian men teams and really look forward to preparing the goalkeepers for the busy hockey schedule ahead. Having spent a lot of time following the Indian team during the last two years, I have a good understanding of the goalkeepers' strengths and weaknesses," he said.

"I think that having a quality goalkeeper backing up an attacking hockey style is crucial to any teams success and I will be doing my best to make sure that the Indian men teams

have this luxury," added Staniforth.

Staniforth represented South Africa in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, 10th FIH Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2002 and 8th All Africa Games in Nigeria 2003.

Image: South Africa goalkeeper David Staniforth (No 1) during the men's field hockey preliminaries against the Netherlands, at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Photograph: Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images