Difficult to find a foreign coach in 15 days: Pargat

Former captain Pargat Singh, who is a member of the five-man panel entrusted with the responsibility of finding a foreign coach for the national hockey team is apprehensive about whether the job can be accomplished in the next two weeks. During yesterday’s coaching and developent committee meeting of Hockey India (HI) to review the team’s shoddy performance at last month’s Azlan Shah Meet, the association decided to form a five-member panel, that also includes former players Jagbir Singh, Balbir Singh, SS Grewal and AB Subbiah, to scout for a foreign expert within 15 days.

But Pargat, who is also the chairman of HI’s coaching and development panel, criticised the national body for waking up so late and said the scenario could have been different if they had paid heed to his suggestions.

“Till date, my proposals tabled in December last year haven’t been implemented. There is total chaos in the whole system. I still don’t know whether we will get a foreign coach or an advisor. Time is too short but I will try my level best,” the former captain told reporters here, today.

“While searching for a candidate, we also have to keep in mind that a coach should suit to our system and have a good understanding of our system,” Pargat added. The need for a foreign coach has emerged yet again in Indian hockey after the national team finished a lowly sixth out of seven teams in last month’s Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.