Indian Coach: Players implemented what we planned

Indian coach BJ Cariappa says the comprehensive win India put up against determined Pakistan on Thursday was due to the fact that his boys could transform boardroom instructions and discussions on the turf.

Despite missing out a penalty stroke, India defeated Pakistan 3-1 to enter the final of the SubJunior Asia Cup. Speaking exclusively to www.stick2hockey.com, the gentleman coach said:

After we lost the first match, we did many things that all turned out to be right ones as the result indicate today.

“We came here to win all the matches and the Cup. The loss to Bangladesh was a wake up call as to what is wrong with us initially. We worked on those weak areas. The boys also understood, realized their mistakes, and wanted to come back to winning ways”.

“Today the good things was the boys implemented whatever we planned. They played a disciplined hockey with lot of game sense, like when to have ball possession, when having possession how to attack, in the attack also what to do, direct field goal or going for penalty corners etc. Everything went right for us.

“We gathered from video sessions that Pak players are very effective with the ball. We wanted therefore not to give them much possession, we need to keep it most of the times.”

“We worked specially on penalty corners, had special sessions, and we got direct results here. We could get PC defence dynamics of Pakistan, and it worked in favour of us today”.

“After losing the first match, the boys realized everything. They started taking responsibility. They showed interest to come up and count. They were more focussed in the last three or four practice sessions we had here. They delivered where and when we wanted.”

“Its good for their career, they find themselves on winning mode”.