Continuity of coaching team is a must for India t

Continuity of coaching team is a must for India to maintain the momentum

Statistics does not express everything; nor does it lie altogether. India won its first CWG medal this year, clinched an Asian Games metal after missing it in the last edition, and then improved its position in the World Cup compared to 2002 and 2006.

Very significantly, as has never happened in the past, India defeated Pakistan four times continuously including in the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Cup. This is a rarity, and on each occasion the nation went on the celebration mode.

The entire team of Jose Brasa, his assistant coaches and support staff included, needs to be complimented for these.

These visible feats could be achieved despite the chief coach has had hardly any opportunity to know the talent pool of India, and not being considered strong enough to select his own team. Drawbacks notwithstanding, Brasa and his off-field team delivered. Even the enemies of these men cannot say the team was not improving from the Chile OQ graveyard.

We have a feeling that India should have performed better in the Delhi CWG and below its present potential in the Asian Games. This feeling is genuine, the future can be built on exploring the fact why did it all happen.

Finding the mistakes and rectifying it is an ongoing process. This can be done only if the continuity in the team and its coaching staff is maintained.

As we have seen in the past, a new set of coaches will come out with new set of ideas and to materialize them will take its own time. This change might even affect India getting qualified for the next Olympics.

Authorities running the hockey affairs are sure of the danger involved if India would again fail to qualify for the Olympics. Another situation akin to KPS Gill’s IHF might spring up in 2012. Therefore, it appears to me, they throw the ball, with lot of calculation and vision, in the court of Pargat Singh. They must be glee on seeing frenetic media activism with respect to bring Dhanraj Pillay or Jude Felix as contenders for the post, and of course Rajinder Singh Sr.

They all pitch in without putting any conditions on salary, tenure, working conditions etc.

In all practical purpose, this is the situation the Hockey India must be relishing.

HI seemed to have taken a decision to dispense away with Brasa — this is what it appears right now — and then create an impression that all powers are being delegated to Pargat Singh led Committee!

After its HI that spotted and brought Brasa to India, reaping reasonable benefits in the process. They cannot afford to stop his service in between without any basis for that.

As an administrative body, HI has really done a great job by bidding for the OQ in 2012. Now as a true administrators they should see the coaching continuity is maintained, for India to qualify for the Olympics rather than doing the PR exercise which it seems to indulge, meaning forming committees of players etc.

There is a need for Pargat Singh to make us understand as to what is his vision of hockey with respect to his role — whether he wants to be an administrator or a technical hand.

He contested election recently, which means he wants to be an administrator. Now that he is ready to head a so-called development committee, which is a technical job. He should now understand a single person cannot ride on two horses.

By putting him in front HI plays a smart game, and to me it appears, Pargat Singh is unnecessarily losing his sheen entering into potentially damaging role of coaches selection. He should ask himself why all of a sudden, the same group that opposed him, wants him to select national coach. Pargat should visualize 2012 OQ. Who will be blamed if India doesn’t qualify for the another Olympics? He should accordingly proceed on his work out nowadays.

Be as it may.

Technically speaking, continuity is the only answer right now. We were told assistant coach Harindra Singh and captain Rajpal Singh resigned during the Asian Games. These are not only ill-timed, immature steps as well. However, these are all emotional decisions. They should be counselled and the entire team of coaches and players should be back, including Brasa, to steer the team towards success.

Any step taken without Brasa on board will only be a PR exercise, media event, won’t benefit Indian hockey; will potentially damage our prospects of being in London Olympics.