Sports ministry unwilling to hire a foreign hockey coach: Indian Hockey
The Sports Ministry of India finds it unnecessary to appoint a foreign coach for the Indian men’s National hockey team after going through some worse experiences with two former coaches, Ric Charlesworth and Jose Brasa. However, the final decision
over the issue will be taken after the upcoming mega event, 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on May 5 in Ipoh, Malaysia.
The Sports Joint Secretary, Injeti Srinivas, stated that this matter will be under discussion once the final trials, scheduled next week, for the selection of the squad to leave for Malaysia are over. Moreover, the former captain, Dhanraj Pillay, will
be asked for an advice along with the national coach, Harendra Singh. Pillay is currently a government representative in the Hockey India’s
(HI) selection committee.
Injeti commented over the unfavourable experience they had with the foreign coach, "It is difficult to say who is to be blamed, but now we don't want to have a foreign coach just for the sake of having one. We have to see whether we need a specialist coach.
We have to be sure about the hierarchy."
The Joint Secretary was also questioned about appointing Harendra despite the fact that he resigned from the post over the 2010 Asian Games defeat. Injeti replied that he had the support from Hockey India (HI) and the matter was not in their hands.
Moreover, among the 20-25 volunteers for the post, he was the most deserving one to be appointed.
The ministry feels no need of any appointments unless the team requires the technical need of a foreign hockey coach. However, the issue is under the consideration of the hockey officials and will be resolved in the best interest of the team.
In the mean time, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced the fixtures for nine huge events to be held in the 2012 calendar on April 15.
Among these, the dates and schedule for the Champions Trophy Men’s Hockey tournament have also been released such that it will put a prestigious end to the 2011 event calendar.
This tournament is to be held in New Delhi, India from December 3 to 11 this year, which will feature world’s best eight hockey teams including the Olympic Champions Germany, 2010 World Cup Champions, Australia, 2010 Asian Games winners, Pakistan,
Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, England and hosts India.
Moreover, New Delhi will also play host to the first 2012 London Olympic Games Qualification tournament for both men and women from February 15 to 26.
A total of three Qualification tournaments are to be held in total. Apart from the first Qualifiers in New Delhi, the other two Olympic Qualification tournaments will take place in Belgium and Japan.
The second round of qualifiers will begin from March 14-25, 2012 in Beerschot in Belgium, followed by the third qualifier that will commence in Kakamigahara, Japan from April 25 - May 6.
Tags: