Nobbs bonding with key players and officials of India Hockey, says Somaiya
India’s hockey body revealed the appointment of Michael Nobbs, from Australia, as the new national hockey coach for the Indian men hockey team on Wednesday, June 29.
India’s former Olympian, M.M. Somaiya, praised this apt decision made by the federation and regarded it as a step ahead towards the road to a strong and a competent team.
According to him, getting a foreign coach is admissible. However, considering the past experiences, the former team manager also laid emphasis over the bonding of the coach with the players as well as the federation officials.
He commented, “More than the ability to make presentations or having a great track record as player, a foreign coach can make a difference if he is able to carry people along with him.”
The past foreign coaches appointed by Hockey India (HI), Jose Brasa of Spain and Ric Charlesworth of Australia, turned unsuccessful due to the misunderstanding and disagreements that took place between the coaches and the administrators.
According to Somaiya, Brasa went well with the players but had issues with the federation. When the players called strike, he strongly supported his team and received equal amount of support from his team too.
He made his place in the heart of the players in a very short time, but could not continue due to disagreements with the federation.
Somaiya remarked, “It should not be forgotten that India under him performed better at the World Cup, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, compared to our performances in these events the previous year we took part.”
Therefore, not just sharing a relationship with the players is enough, but Nobbs will have to get along with the management too.
Somaiya recalled one of his Olympic experiences against the Australian team in 1984 that included Nobbs as a substitute player. He shared the fact that he has not seen the Australian native as a national coach, but Nobbs mastered
the ability to get along with people very well.
In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Australia came fourth followed by India at the fifth spot.
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