Jalandhar, June 6:
Aiming golden days ahead for the Indian hockey in the years to come, former USA and Canadian national team coach, Shiv Jagdey said keeping in mind the present status of the team a blend of European and Indian tactics was the need of the hour. Besides, there was need to catch the talent at a young age.

Jagdey is here in the city to conduct the 12-day hockey training cum clinic camp at Olympian Surjeet Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park.

Jagdey said the players needed to understand their strengths first and then work upon their weak points. “There was a time when Indian hockey team was known all over the world for its fine game. But over the last some years we started ignoring our strengths and at the same time did not worked effectively on our weaknesses, as a result of which the game virtually came to a halt”, he said adding that the initiative taken by Director Sports, Punjab, Pargat Singh would definitely bear fruit.

Jagdey emphasised on the need to teach a blend of both European and Indian style of hockey which, according to him, would yield desired results. The Indian basics of playing the game coupled with the European technique will definitely do wonders on the turf.

“The training camp has been divided into basic, intermediate and advanced level. In this first level of training the focus is on to develop modern tactics of the players. The next level of training would be held in December”, said F.I.H Grade I coach.

“At the domestic level our style of playing the game is good. In fact, I have seen some PHL matches and observed the players show fine hockey skills. But somehow our players have not been able to understand the European style of passing and receiving the ball their way of covering all range of angles and running with the ball”.

Asked about the strategy as to how the coaches would be trained, Jagdey said, “First of all we need to jot down the short term and long term plans for the team and then work smart to execute them. The need of the hour is to go parallel with these efforts and emerge a winner at the international level too”.

Courtesy: Tribune