Bickering continues: Coach Brasa and Hockey India take swipes at each other over Sandeep’s fitness “I don’t know where he is getting his information from. The president (Mattoo) is very clever because he knows the results even before the doctors.” — Coach Jose Brasa
INDIA’S chief coach Jose Brasa and Hockey IndiapresidentAKMattooonFridaycontinued to spar with each other over the fitness, availability and leadership role of defender Sandeep Singh in the team bound for the Champions Challenge in Argentina from December 6.
A day after spending hours trying to sort out problems between Brasa an some of the senior players in the ongoing national camp here, Mattoo announced in New Delhi that Sandeep had fully recovered from his back injury and that he would be participating in both the Champions Challenge, and the World Cup in the Capital three months later.
But Brasa denied having received any such information. “I’ve got no word from the president about this. I don’t know where he is getting his information from,” he told The Indian Express.
Brasa added that Sandeep had been given an injection in his spine on Wednesday evening, and the doctors would be able to confirm the extent of the injury only later on Friday. “The president (Mattoo) is very clever because he knows the results even before the doctors,” Brasa said.
When contacted in Sancheti Hospital, where he is admitted, Sandeep said his availability for the Argentina tournament could only be determined on Saturday. “I have been undergoing tests all day for my back. I will get the results tomorrow and only then will I know if I am fit for the upcoming tournament. As for Mr Mattoo’s declaration that I am fit, I have not spoken to him yet, so I cannot say anything,” he said.
On Thursday, Mattoo had also put aside the decision to name Rajpal Singh as captain due to Sandeep’s injury. Coach Brasa, however, reasserted on Friday that Rajpal was now the team’s skipper. “I’ve only been listening to what the doctors told me. As per their advice, Sandeep’s injury was severe and was to miss the Champion’s Challenge. As of now, Rajpal is the captain,” Brasa said.
Sandeep and Brasa reportedly fell out during the camp in Pune, after it was announced that the defender would no longer lead the Indian team. Both Brasa and Sandeep have so far declined to comment on the issue.