Dhanraj should be coach – for Bombay team first

Dhanraj should be the coach – for Bombay team first

Dhanraj Pillay has openly pitched in the battle for the next chief coach of India. It is certainly going to make waves, if not among the hockey fraternity, but at least in the media in the outset. Endless interviews and opinions will inundate in the coming days, for, Dhanraj is media darling, everone in the media world would like to hear about him.

Those fans who sit in the computers, pronounce judgement, and try to make opinions, without ever knowing exactly what is happening on the ground, will come out in big numbers in blogs, facebook, message boards, and forums. We are certainly going to witness unfolding of big big bash, even to the extent of of it going to tamasha type.

It is nice, and it is fitting to the personality of Dhanraj that he wishes to be associated with hockey. We at the outset welcome his intention. After all, he wants to contribute to the cause of Indian hockey. However, intention and interest are other things when reality stark at the face.

Now that the great player has openly expressed his willingness to coach, its time to know about his coaching credentials.

We fail to gather information as to his coaching worthiness, for the simple fact he does not hither to coach any State, Institutional or any age group teams. Yes, he has a academy on his name and must be certainly training them. Queries with NIS Patiala also reveals he has undergone any course there, if that is suffice to become a national coach.

Of course he was manager of the last Asia Cup, a month after India winning the depleted Azlan Shah Cup. India failed to win a medal in the Asia Cup first time, it was at Kuantan, Malaysia.

He was in the first 16 players of the Air India team that won the Shastri Cup last week, it was amazing he was there in the team despite being 42. He that way is a wonder boy.

Against this background, it is correct to say he is a novice insofar as coaching is concerned, he is still playing in the domestic team.

If it is any other country, he will thus be ineligible even to apply for the national coach not to talk of selecting.

But, in India nobody is such a professional, no sporting organization is such a professional, things here go by sentiments, we still bear Ajit Pals, hear even players who are ten years older than him.

However, any player has a legitimate claim to coach. Therefore, it is our wish Dhanraj should start modest. He should immediately talk to Joaquim Carvalho and get himself posted for the Chief Coach of the Bombay team, the province he represents.

Next month, Hockey India is planning to hold Nationals in Pune, Dhanraj’s hometown.

Therefore, to start with, and to make his coaching credentials worthy and strong, he should take Bombay team to Nationals title.

In case faction ridden Bombay Hockey Association of which Joaquim is now the boss, does not send a team to Pune, Dhanraj might explore the possibility taking his own to Pune, and take it to the finals.

In 2005, Rajinder Junior was selected as the chief coach because his PSB team won the Nationals that year.

Even Dhanraj was selected for the country after Bombay of which he and his brother Ramesh were members, won the Gwalior Nationals.

Therefore, this legend should first prove his worth in the Nationals.

We wish him success.