Nobbs appointed India’s hockey coach

NEW DELHI: Australian Michael Jack Nobbs was on Wednesday appointed India’s hockey coach for an unprecedented five-year period, ending weeks of speculation over the job left vacant by Spaniard Jose Brasa.

“I am very excited, honoured and privileged to get this job,” said the 57-year-old, who was part of Australia’s team for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Nobbs’ contract runs till the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and his pay cheque will start at 10,000 Australian dollars per month.

His remuneration will be hiked by 10 per cent if the struggling Indian hockey team manages to qualify for the London Olympics next year.

Nobbs can expect another hike if the team does well next year as in a first in India hockey, his contract has a clause for performance-based incentives.

“Under my chairmanship, Sports Authority of India committee and Hockey India unanimously selected Nobbs as our coach for the period upto 2016 Rio Olympics,” SAI Director General Deepak Kumar told reporters.

“The selection was based on several factors, his experience, organising capabilities and the presentation he made before us.

“What weighed in his favour is the fact that the Australian style of hockey is similar to ours and we have decided to continue with that,” he added.

Nobbs beat competition from Dutch legends Roelant Oltmans and Jacques Brinkman, who is a twice Olympic and world champion.

India has been looking for a foreign coach since Spaniard Brasa’s contract expired after the Asian Games last year.

HI then handed the reins to national coach Harendra Singh for last month’s Azlan Shah Cup last month but he failed to produce desired results in the tournament.