Jose Brasa still wants to remain coach of Indian hockey team
Jose Brasa the Spanish-born former coach of the Indian hockey team, whose contract has not been renewed for another term, still wants to become coach of the team. He believes that he is one of the best available choices to prepare
the Indian hockey team for the upcoming mega events.
Spaniard Coach, Jose Brasa left India after differences arose between him and the sports authorities, when his contract was not extended after the Asian Games. India disappointedly finished with a bronze medal in the Asiad.
A humiliating blame game started between the Spanish coach and captain of the Indian hockey team, Rajpal Singh, which had really souring effects on the national side and the sport.
Many former players also joined the fray and opposed the extension of Jose Brasa for another term saying that the Spaniard did not have the potential to train the team and was sowing disharmony among the players.
Jose Brasa was of the view that the Indian hockey team required a foreign coach, who will pull them out from their present slump. India’s hockey team is playing without a coach after the Asian Games while less than a year is left
to the qualifiers for the London Olympics, he added.
Brasa said, “Nobody from Hockey India or SAI has called me after my departure. I am still waiting for their call. If they say no, then I will decide about future, I cannot live without Hockey and coaching and can coach any international
team. But my first choice is India again.”
Brasa further said that the performance of the team in the last 18th
months had improved gradually and it had won bronze and silver medals in the international tournaments, adding that there was no valid reason not to extend his contract except for internal politics.
A few former Olympians and legendary players including Dhanraj Pillay, Jude Felix, Gerhard Rach, Harendra Singh and Ranjan Negi expressed interests for becoming the coach of the Indian squad. On the other hand, Hockey India (HI)
and the Sports Authorities of India (SAI) have not taken any decision regarding the appointment of a new coach.
The Spaniard said that he could prepare the team better than anyone else for the qualifiers of the London Games.
Jose Brasa said, “I think I can help them more than anyone else since I know all the players and their capabilities better. I know how to bring the best out of them. Any other foreign coach will run away from the problems but I
did manage to get results in those circumstances and will do that in future also.”
Jose Brasa was appointed as Chief Coach of the Indian hockey team back in May 2009 and the team under his training won a gold medal in the Azlan Shah Cup, a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in the Asian
Games.
Jose Brasa also stated that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has yet to be paid his rights in the head of monthly dues and prizes. According to Brasa’s statement, Director General of SAI, Sayan Chatterjee asked him to wait for
two to three weeks further in this regard.
He maintained that he had dispatched several letters to Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India asking them to finalize the matters with him but to no avail. He has no other option except to wait for the reply of the authorities
concerned, he added.
Brasa reiterated that the Indian hockey team could deliver remarkable performances in the upcoming Olympics but it would require proper facilities and coaching. He urged the concerned authorities to resolve the coaching issues
as soon as possible in the best interests of the sport.
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