May 17, 2005: Underscoring the point that he had less than required time to prepare the team for the Azlan Shah Cup, the newly appointed coach Rajinder Singh Jr. wished, in his characteristic jocularity, that if he has a special injection he would have amply applied them to the team to do better at Kuala Lumpur. On serious note he said, ‘as much we wished that type of injection is not available. There are problems in the technical aspects of team building. Apart from time factor, some of the players has to improve their basics, like trapping and on the run hit. I am working on them, it will obviously take time”.
The team for the Azlan Shah has been selected but it is gathered that the coaching group would have delighted to have a much wider talent pool to select from than what was given this time. As only the IHF could, the coach was appointed after the probables were ‘selected’, restricting the coaches to spot the talent from this rather doubtful selection of probables.
The team has left by air to Hyderabad today (Wednesday), where they propose to train together with the team Jr. World Cup probables.
It is an interesting coincidence that Rajinder Singh played the first Sultan Azlan Cup in 1983, where his game came in for commendation. In the review published in ‘World Hockey’ magazine, he was identified one of the three best talents spotted in the tournament.
When reminded of this, the nostalgic Rajinder said that he was in his form in those days despite he would never know in which position he would be played. “ I was considered an all rounder perhaps. I was put at the attack, in some other matches as left half”.
Coming back to the assignment on hand, he felt that some of the sure shots being in the Junior World Cup training, he missed them for the Azlan. “At least six or seven new faces are in the resent trip to Malaysia, like forward Suresh, full back Muthu Selvan, Jaswinder Singh and Apthar Singh. Hopefully, they would avail the chances that came their way”.
Interestingly, Rajinder goes to Kuala Lumpur on hockey assignment after 22 years since he played in the inaugural Sultan Azlan Cup.