SAI put ball back in Brasa ‘s court

With poor response from various International manufacturing units across the globe for procuring hockey equipment that Spanish hockey expert Jose Brasa had short-list for his next phase of training for the national men ’s team in preparation for the upcoming World Cup to be held in the Capital next year, Sports Authority of India (SAI) has asked Brasa to do the rethinking.

Brasa, it is learnt, had recently given SAI a list of equipments to support his training progarmme. To procure the items, as per Government guidelines, SAI had floated global tenders. Unfortunately, international manufactures showed scant interest in the tenders which had stated single item for each particular equipment that Spanish hockey expert wanted.
Since hockey is on priority, says a SAI official, and to expedite the process, SAI is not going for re-tendering, which is quite long procedure, but has put the ball back in Brasa
’s court, asking him for substitution for the equipment he has asked for training.

According to sources, Brasa is yet to respond to SAI request.
“Since Brasa had not asked for bulk of equipment but a one single set of a particular equipment, there is lukewarm response to the tenders floated. Therefore, Brasa is the person who can find a solution to it. Whether to use indigenous equipment. Or substitution for the equipment he wants for training the national squad,” said one of the official of the SAI on condition of anonymity.
However, of the dozen list of equipment mentioned by Brasa, SAI, it is learnt, had managed to send a particular software, Spanish expert, had asked for.

“We have send it online to him,” added the SAI official.

With delay in procuring equipment will Brasa reschedule his training plan for the upcoming four nation tournament, if it is held at all, in the Capital next January. And bigger tournament– World Cup beginning at the end of next February.

Ever since Brasa had taken the reign of men
’s hockey, performance of the national squad had been just okay. The real test, however, will be on the home soil that too during the World Cup!

s2h Special