Ajit Pal, Aslam Sher Khan pitch for Indian hockey coach

Chandigarh (PTI): With Harendra Singh doing a “good job” for national hockey team, selection panel chairman Ajit Pal Singh does not see any real need for a coach from abroad but said he has no issue if a foreigner is appointed for the top job.

“I would say if our team is doing well and producing results under present coach in-charge Harendra Singh, then I don’t see any real need in going for a foreign coach,” Ajit Pal told PTI over phone Ludhiana.

“If our team grows under Harendra’s guidance and over a period of time shows consistency, then it is good,” he added.

Asked if Spaniard Jose Manuel Brasa, who was recently interviewed by the ad-hoc committee, had agreed to take up the top job, Ajit Pal said, “He has given some terms and conditions. Nothing has been finalised yet and the process may take time.”

He, however, said if a foreign coach is appointed not much should be made out it.

“I have said that if present coach-in-charge produces results, it is good. But even if a foreign coach is needed at any stage, then we should not make it an issue. After all, he will only do us some good and our players will learn.”

Aji Pal’s colleague in the selection panel, Aslam Sher Khan, however, outrightly rejected the idea of having a foreign coach and instead pitched for giving long-term responsibility to Indians.

“Whenever we start losing, we tend to think that a foreign coach can help and bail us out of the situation. I don’t think they are any different. We have best coaches available (in India). We need to give them long term responsibility to produce better results,” Khan said here.