Need to strength the hands of the coach if hockey is the priority.

For long the real hockey was not in the picture, conceding space to Hockey India tussles. Now the sport has taken its rightful step – but unfortunately on a wrong foot.

Whenever a new coach comes, he needs time, space and freedom to try out his ideas – exactly for the same purpose he is in the thick of things.

Time and again we have seen one or two elements within the team are up against the coach, and media has always taken the sides of the players. The same ageold drama is again unfolding with the disgruntled players doing the things they know best – coach is good as long as he is good to me type of stuff.

Now, in India we have a foreign coach. Once we have taken him in, and given the charge of coaching, we should give him freedom and respect his work, his work ethics etc.

If the chief coach openly says he did not get the equipment or a technical hand such as psychologist, it is for the team’s cause. He is not demanding something for his personal use – but to build a cracking unit for which he is in this country for the first place.

Indians, especially players have a tendency not to change a wee bit. If a player cannot change his attitude or style of play in the interest of the team, how will the fortune of our team change?

But star players in the team are media darlings. Their problems are teams’ problem!

If some players are not willing to co-operate, or they don’t like the new style of the new coach, they should silently withdraw from the scene without making a scene. We know well in both men and women’s team the player chose to play. They pick and chose tournaments, and play the ball if they like the coach lest there are so many ways by which one escapes.

This is said in the interest of the game.

Bureaucracy is already hanging Domocle’s sword on the neck of Brasa, our main man from Spain, because Indian Babus’ cannot accept accountability and then none should point out that also. By commenting the slow pace of the Sports Authority of India often, he is already in their bad books.

Hockey India certainly won’t like a coach who speaks out his problem.

Now that a new situation is created by the section of the players, Hockey India and SAI might like this, might even join hands to show the coach his place.

Situations of similar nature killed hockey in the past. This trend need not be continued.

World over Chief coach commands planning, selection and competitions. He is paid for that. Our hockey is in the lowest, unless perceptional changes are not allowed, we will continue to be where we are now.

I wish another coach makes a team with the disgruntled players and that team is groomed for any one of the major tournaments lined up for the next year.

As of now, let the coach work. Only a straight forward coach, who speaks for the team, goes agaisnt slow moving bureaucracy, who gives important to the sport not to select individuals, can deliver. We don’t have any reason to believe Brasa is not on the right course.

Its now merry time for everyone concerned with hockey — at the cost of hockey of course