PUNE: Forced into a damage control exercise, Hockey India President A K Mattoo, on Thursday, met disgruntled players and chief coach Jose Brasa in his bid to broker peace between the warring parties.
Mattoo also overruled Brasa’s recent announcement that Rajpal Singh would replace Sandeep Singh as the new captain of the side.
Mattoo held series of marathon meetings with the players, Brasa as well as the support staff following reports that some senior members of the side, including former captain Sandeep Singh, were unhappy with the Spanish coach’s style of functioning and had shot off a letter to Hockey India in this regard.
Mattoo gave ample hint of his disliking for Brasa’s often complaint about certain things and his habit of taking decisions without keeping in loop national coach Harendra Singh or assistant coaches Clarence Lobo and Romeo James.
“I think the coach should stop complaining. He should also give positives. I have also told Brasa that there should be a lot of interchange and exchange of ideas with the support staff in decision making. Indian coaches should also be a part of what is being done,” Mattoo said.
The HI chief also criticised Brasa for naming Rajpal Singh captain for next month’s Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina, saying it was the federation’s prerogative.
“It is not right. It is only the media which is naming Rajpal as the captain. We have not yet announced him as the captain,” Mattoo said.
He also said that though Brasa has ruled Sandeep out of the Champions Challenge due to back injury, the selectors would review his fitness before taking a call on the matter.
“I had a discussion with Sandeep today. In the next few days we will assess his injury and then decide whether he will be able to play in Argentina or not,” Mattoo said.