New Delhi: The announcement of the name of MK Kaushik as the men’s hockey team coach and his subsequent U-turn back to women’s fold has not really affected most members of the Indian women’s team. Things seem to have settled down with the ex-Olympian joining the preparatory camp in Bangalore.

Playing safe seems to be the mantra for the girls. “I want to play for the country for some more years. It will be better for us to concentrate on the game rather than get sucked into such controversial issues,” said a player.

Team captain Mamta Kharab, who is in Madhuban in Karnal undergoing her police training, was all praise for the coach. “Kaushik sir is world-class coach. We have won many medals under him. The women’s hockey team needs him,” she said. Kharab said it was a critical time for women’s hockey as the team is in a rebuilding mode and with the Commonwealth Games scheduled for 2010, a lot of players from the junior ranks have to be groomed. “Kaushik sir is the best bet for us,” she added.

She appreciated the IWHF’s effort in managing the whole case and termed it as a very strong step. Mamta however, will give the camp a miss as a small niggle in her knee has not healed fully.

A senior member of the team, however, doesn’t share the same thoughts on the coach. “We had a very bad experience with the coach. He (Kaushik) doesn’t have patience. He is not a sensitive coach. He doesn’t know how to motivate. We used to practice hard but during tournaments he put us under lot of pressure. That’s why we failed to qualify for the Olympics,” she said, sounding bitter.

However, these accusations did not find an echo in the team. “With Kaushik sir around, performance of the team has improved. Maybe it’s got to do with a different mindset and way of thinking. Everyone wants discipline. That’s what isn’t liked by some people,” said the player.