Hockey India believes a foreign coach is the only remedy for improvement in team: Hockey News
After going through the problems that led to the dismal performance of the Indian national team at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, last month, Hockey India (HI) concluded its yesterday’s meeting, held in New Delhi, believing that a foreign coach is the only way
out towards the improvement in the team’s future performances.
India, the number 9 ranked team in the world, ended at the sixth place among the seven-nation invitational that took part in the 2011 edition of this Malaysian tournament, after a record of two successive title wins in 2009 and 2010, which was quite disappointing.
At the meeting, HI announced a five-member committee that will pick a foreign coach who suits the job, within a time-frame of 15 days. This appointed board, including the Olympians Col. Balbir Singh, Jagbir Singh, MS Subbiah, Pargat Singh and S.S. Grewal,
will submit its report of the foreign assistance selected, within the given period.
While discussions between the coaching and development committee and the team’s coaches, it was recommended that proper hockey equipment and gear are the need of the hour, which was accepted by the committee, according to HI’s Secretary, Narinder Batra.
He commented, “We were told some players did not have proper shoes for playing on astroturf. From now, every player involved will be given shoes and the top six goalkeepers will be provided with the best playing kit.”
Batra added that a meeting will also be called with the players to ask for their suggestions. According to the complaints received from the players, it was revealed that they had been washing their training clothes daily throughout their last camps, to which
the HI announced that they will be granted Rs 100 per day as an allowance for laundry in their future camps.
Talking about India’s weird image upon the international coaching fraternity, like Jose Brasa and Ric Charlesworth, Batra admitted that it has earned a bad name to hockey society of the country.
“But it is not an entirely correct image. We are open to all forms of discussions for a foreign coach. He can come as an advisor or as full-time coach. But he will have to be the best and, if need be, we will raise the money to meet the
requirement. Ideally, the coach will have to be appointed from Olympics to Olympics,” he added.
Batra accepted the fact that India presently stands below the Asian level, which is something serious. Everyone is disappointed with the Azlan Shah Cup’s outcome. Apart from the fitness issue, the game plan and execution were also missing.
He said that he takes up the responsibility of the shameful display given at Ipoh.
Batra also felt that the team did not have the best man for the job as a doctor, Dr. B.K. Nayak, who is under the custody of the Army.
Batra convinced that the HI will soon assign the team with a psychologist and a yoga instructor, keeping the team’s demand as a top priority.
Batra concluded by saying that Delhi did not suit for holding the hockey camps and it will be appropriate to conduct the next camps in Pune or Bangalore. As for the women team, the Patiala venue suits them the best, according to HI.
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