Brasa rules out radical changes to style
New Delhi, Agencies:

The Indian style of hockey is good enough to hold its own in this era of tactical power game and there is no need to shove anything alien down the throat of the players, says Spanish coach Jose Brasa.

Brasa’s blue print for revival of the team’s sagging fortune incorporates a modern and scientific approach but the Spaniard is clear that the Indian players, skill-wise, are second to none and there is no need to tinker with their traditional style of playing the game.

“Everybody is afraid of the Indian attacking way of playing hockey. I will keep it and sharpen it, adding more speed and cooperation and involving more players in every move,” the 55-year-old coach, who led the Spanish women team to gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, told PTI from Spain.

“About defending, we will see,” he added. “I am absolutely sure that Indian players have enough skills to win medals and I like to win medals,” he said.

“My agenda will be to train the team in a modern way by using as much technology as possible. Skill-wise, the Indian players are the best all around the world. Maybe, we have to increase the tactical cooperation and address some fitness issues. We will see after testing the physical condition of the players,” Brasa said.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) master coach also dismissed apprehensions about possible ego clashes with coach-in-charge Harendra Singh, under whose guidance the Indian team recently won the Azlan Shah Cup after a 13-year gap. “We are senior persons. We both want the best for the Indian hockey team, so I don’t think there will be any problem,” he said.

Brasa plans to bring a physical trainer with him next month and build a 14-member support staff, engaging the rest from inside India. “I will bring with me a physical trainer in June. All the others will be chosen from India,” he said.

Mission Gold: Harendra

The team will settle for nothing less than the gold medal in the Asia Cup starting on May 9 in Kuantan, Harendra said.

India are the defending champions, having won the title in 2007 at home. Harendra said winning gold in Asia Cup would complete the first phase of the revival plans for Indian hockey.

“We are successfully working towards our plan to revive Indian hockey. Asia Cup victory is crucial to that plan,” Harendra said before the team left for Malaysia.

“We are the defending champions and we will be satisfied with nothing less than the gold. The team has worked very hard in past couple of months and the boys are upbeat about their performance,” Harendra said.

“Everything has gone according to the plan of reaching among the top six nations by the end of this year. Asia Cup gold will complete the first phase of our revival plan.”

India have been clubbed alongside Pakistan, India, China and Bangladesh in Pool B.

“The competition will be tough. We have to be consistent throughout the tournament. We will take one match at a time,” Harendra said.