We need a foreign coach: Harendra
Vishal Sharma,TNN
CHANDIGARH: For those struggling to discover an answer for who should be at the helm of coaching duties of Indian hockey team – Indian or foreigne
r – support for the foreign version has come from an unlikely candidate, the coach
in-charge Harendra Singh.
Harendra has made up his mind for what is essential for the revival of Indian hockey. “We definitely need a foreign coach, someone who has superior technical know how and is master of the tactical aspect of the game,” said Harendra to TOI, after India lost to Holland 1-2 during the final of four-nation Punjab Gold Cup on Monday.
India, ranked eleventh in the international rankings competed with world and Olympic champions Germany, New Zealand and Holland, playing some very aggressive hockey.
“If a foreign coach is brought in, I don’t mind working with him or under him,” he said. He further added, “What is good for the game has to be done, and Harendra Singh won’t stand in its way. Indian hockey needs revival.
“I’ve been saying this since Sydney Olympics and in preparation for the highly competitive events scheduled next year, its need of the hour,” Harendra said.
Though Indians faced their greatest jolt as they failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, the current coach in-charge Harendra has set a step by step process of improvement for the team in preparation for the upcoming 2010 World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
“The ad-hoc committee is doing wonderful job and is on the right track. I would definitely advise them to make a headway in this direction,” Harendra added.
“It’s a question of how the system works. A foreigner would be able to better assess the scenario Indian hockey finds itself in, and make recommendations from an point of view of an expert,” Harendra said.