How a singular New Zealand defeat changed the course of Indian hockey
This story is not about India losing a test match in 1926 to New Zealand in its historic first ever foreign tour.
Its not about history no GenNext hockey fan is concerned about.
Its about what happened two years ago that changed the course of current hockey.
Almost at a moment the powers that be were almost decided something which they had to revert.
New Zealand is historically a hard nut to crack a fact Indian hockey is aware of.
History of their contacts reveal the fact that the Kiwis always put India on mat in crucial matches.
But even that was not the reason why the course of Indian hockey took a turn, about turn it was, as it happened in 2011.
At the end of 2010, the first genuine foreign coach of India, Jose Brasa, was almost eased out.
The administration, adhoc committee or Hockey India, or whatever surrogacy it was, had developed a distaste for foreign coach, simply because they spoke their mind.
Who can forget Brasa’s quote: “Technology changes faster than Sports Authority of India’s slow mode of equipment purchase”.
And then, “Batra has ruined my life, am living in prison like situation”.
And what not.
So, like Ric Charlesworth before, Brasa turned villain for ruling class.
Then, how come we have a flurry of foreign coaches now? Which event triggered it all?
Its here the role of New Zealand, unwittingly, comes to the fore.
After Brasa’s contract was not renewed, his a year long stay in India came to an unceremonious end.
His deputy Harendra Singh was promoted to the mantle of national coaching, almost like Minister of State with independent charge type.
Though he had handled well other tasks before such as Punjab Gold Cup, test-match tours, Air Asia Asia Cup and Azlan Shah Cup (2009, gold), the 2011 Azlan Shah Cup came in for close scrutiny than ever before.
Because, a country obsessed against foreign coaches saw in him the last savior of domestic coaches. After all, he won Silver at Chandigarh and gold at Ipoh 2009.
In that crucial outing in 2011, his team opened well. After a narrow — yet another 2-3 – defeat at the hands of Korea, India beat Great Britian 3-1, and drew Ric Chrlesworth’s Australia 1-1.
The icing on the cake was 5-2 rout of Malaysia. It was indeed India’s defending champions stuff.
It was a long drawn out 7-team event, and needed a lot of energy and enthusiasm to sustain for more success.
The team lacked, lot its stream.
Even before the shock of losing to Pakistan (1-3) was not got over, New Zealand stunned India.
Not just a defeat, it was a 3-7 drubbing after 2-2 at halftime.
NZ pumped five goals after Gurwinder Chandi put one to give India a lead in the 41st minute.
Andrew Hayward struck a brace, with Matt l’Hullier, Shay Neal and Blair Hilton adding a goal apiece.
This put the Indian coach on mat. The defeat was blown out of proportion and the call for foreign coach again hogged the boardrooms and limelight. The very fact that India was the defending champions and finished fourth counted heavily against his otherwise commendable credits.
Of all the persons, Pargat Singh — an anti-foreign coach advocate in his entire career — played a deciding role in convincing his new friend in Narindra Batra and Co. — that flourished for about 4,5 months in the fallout of Vidhaya Stokes winning the HI elections – to change their mind, and go for a foreign coach.
Pargat should have in the outset appointed a Performance Director, who would have done the rest. But what happened in India was rude reverse.
Coach was appointed, physios came and gone, and then Performance Director was found.
Now, the foreign phobia has reached such an extent that if rain comes during a match there is a foreigner in India to hold umbrella to cover the head of our VIPs!
All because, those five goals that New Zealand pumped in in the second half of the sixth match for India two summers ago.
This Indian collapse saw the exit of Harendra, who was definitely growing in stature till then and then ENTER foreign coaches.
As India takes on New Zealand tomorrow, its 2011 result cannot but be reminisced, as it has indirectly led to change in colour and contour of Indian hockey forever thereafter.
PICs:
India-New Zealand line up for the last pool match in 2011, without knowing this result will have indelible consequence on Indian hockey.
Chief Coach Harendra Singh with his boys in the 2011 training session in New Delhi before going for Azlan Shah Cup.