Chennai: Yet another poignant chapter was added to the sordid history of Indian hockey. This relates to the resignation of the Aussie stalwart Ric Charlesworth even before the world famous coach could share his ideas to improve the quality and content of the game.
Looking back on the chain of events since the International Hockey Federation (IHF) announced a special package to pull India out of the rut during the last World Cup at Monchengladbach, it is crystal clear that at every stage there was a marked reluctance to go with the FIH and its recommendations, which included the appointment of Charlesworth as the coach.
The official apathy to the proposals, and the utterly indifferent attitude of the bureaucracy, which was compelled to come into the picture, only mirrored what the pinpricks were going to be for a world famous personality.
Yet, Charlesworth displayed the resilience and fortitude, that he showed in those halcyon days when he was the Aussie icon propelling Australia a super power under the guidance and supervision of a great coach like Richard Aggiss, well aware of the notorious chaos under which sports federations function in this country.
The then top brass of the IHF was opposed to giving Charlesworth any worthwhile role, and only grudgingly offered the part of a Technical Director without a mandate. Superficially, it meant that he could design and devise plans for all segments minus the senior squad. That the coaching team headed by Joaquim Carvalho viewed him more as a hindrance than help was proved in no uncertain manner on more than one occasion.
Disaster
Events were fashioned in a way that Charlesworth was not present when the team needed him the most for the Olympic qualifier at Santiago. What a disaster it turned out to be needs no reiteration.
Then followed the cataclysmic events, culminating in the suspension of the IHF administration and IOA taking charge of it amidst unprecedented acrimony.
Quite understandably, Charlesworth was the victim (or the scapegoat?) in the crossfire with the Sports Ministry accentuating the confusion, leaving many wonder whether Charlesworth was wanted at all by any of the three entities — IHF, IOA and Sports Ministry.
The avoidable contretemps between Carvalho and the ad hoc selection committee, consequent to the incompetent display at the four nation events in Perth and Darwin clouded the scene further. Again, there was no clue to Charlesworth’s status. The inevitable nomination of A.K. Bansal to take charge of the team at Ipoh was an emergency measure. As luck would have it, India picked up a silver medal, an event magnified more than it deserved by IOA and the ad hoc committee.
Isolated, and somewhat disappointed, at the impression of being unwanted gaining ground, frustration in Charlesworth was becoming apparent. His ideas of a long-term programme had few takers; a failed coach even went to the extent of accusing the Australian of demoralising the national team before the team left for Santiago.
Clueless
If anyone had thought the ad hoc committee would give up the ad hocism that had paralysed the system for so long would show some imagination and initiative to put everything in perspective remained indifferent, or clueless to find an acceptable solution.
Though a case is being made out to establish that Charlesworth left on the issue of salary arrears with the Sports Ministry, that the champion coach had to quit because of the conscious trauma to which he was subjected to by one and all, minus the media, cannot be obliterated.
That a great opportunity to revamp and reshape Indian hockey has been lost cannot be exaggerated. The entry and exit of Charlesworth, a genuine admirer of Indian hockey and its ethos, will only lower the image, or whatever is left of it, of the country in the eyes of the international hockey community.