Emulate Tendulkar, coach tells his boys

Special Correspondent

Harendra Singh, National coach of the Indian hockey team, interacting with the media on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: The captaincy issue, involving Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh, remained “unresolved” even as hockey coach Harendra Singh asked the players to emulate Sachin Tendulkar.

“When Sachin can play under (M.S.) Dhoni, I think anyone can play under anyone. There can’t be a greater role model than Sachin and there is a lesson here for everyone. He is the best batsman in the world and he has no inhibitions of playing under Dhoni,” said Harendra during an interaction with the media here on Thursday.

Uncomfortable

Harendra, who was at times not comfortable facing a belligerent media, agreed that the job of the coaching staff was not the same as that of the selectors.

“The coaching staff’s job is to prepare the team and not select the captain. I cannot really comment on the captaincy problem but I have told the players that if there is a problem, they should talk to the Hockey India (HI) officials.”

The team’s World Cup preparation had been hit by the captaincy issue where Rajpal was picked for the job by the selectors and Prabhjot was being backed by chief coach Jose Brasa.

Harendra confessed he had spoken to both the players — Rajpal and Prabhjot. “I spoke to them and gave them the example of Dhanraj (Pillay), who played four Olympics but never led the team.”

According to HI official Anupam Ghulati, the issue of captaincy had been settled and was a “closed chapter” as far as the selectors were concerned.

The Indian team has been training at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium for days now with the media not having any access to the players.

“I am all for interaction with the media. We are not hiding anything. I will certainly request the authorities to allow the media to watch our training if possible,” he said.

Harendra assured there was “no rift” in the team and the boys were being prepared well for the World Cup that begins on February 28.

“The physical fitness of this team is very good and we have, for the first time, three players who excel at the drag flick. I am saying it again that 2010 will be the make-or-break year for Indian hockey. I am ready for garlands and brickbats, depending on how we perform.”