PUNE: Hockey India (HI) president Ashok Mattoo rushed to the Balewadi sports complex on Thursday following reports of a revolt by senior Indian players against foreign coach Jose Brasa, and later did a good job of fire-fighting. “There is no crisis. There was only some misunderstanding between the players and the coach,” Mattoo told mediapersons after meeting all the players individually as well as Brasa and the four Indian coaches.
“I heard out the views and grievances of the players and the coaches. I have asked Brasa to interact with the players and take a collective decision along with the Indian coaches. I will also interact with six senior players who are not attending the camp. Their views are important. I will ask them to join the camp,” Mattoo said.
Brasa, who also spoke to reporters, said he was surprised that Mattoo had come to the hockey camp. However, he termed his meeting with the HI president as “fruitful”.
Some senior players who are attending the camp said the reports of a revolt had emanated following Brasa’s statement to the media last Sunday that former skipper Sandeep Singh would not be available for the World Cup because of a back injury. “The coach should have consulted the doctor before making such a statement,” a senior player said.
Mattoo said the decision to replace Sandeep with Rajpal Singh as skipper was a “collective decision of the selectors”. He also said he would look into Brasa’s complaints about lack of equipment. “The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has been told to procure the equipment at the earliest. I will also request the government to appoint a sports psychologist for the team,” he said.
Mattoo, however, sounded a bit annoyed with Brasa’s regular complaints. “I think the coach should stop complaining and should also give positives.”
Mattoo said the HI officials were in touch with the Spanish embassy regarding the delay in the grant of visas to the Indian team, which will attend a week-long training session in Madrid in the end of November. The team will proceed from there to Argentina for the Champions Challenge tournament.
Matto also said that Hockey India would be holding its elections in January-end.