Assistant coach Felix puts in his papers too
Close on the heels of Paul Van Ass’ ouster, Jude Felix, an assistant coach with the men’s national squad, has put in his papers, too, citing “personal reasons”.
“Yes, I have resigned from the job,” Felix told The Tribune from Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh, where the national camp is currently underway.
“I have an ailing mother to look after. Also, I run a hockey academy that needs my attention. So, I am going back,” he added.
However, sources privy to the development offered a different reason for Felix’s departure, just a year before the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“He was fed up with the coaching mess. Every time a new coach comes in, he brings his own style of functioning. Felix was finding it difficult to adjust to the styles of different individuals. He needed stability in the coaching department,” a source told The Tribune.
“Besides, Felix did not want his name to figure in any kind of controversy. He has an academy in Bangalore where about 150 kids train free of cost. He arranges for their kits and sponsors. He thought it would be better to concentrate there,” said the source.
Felix, who was appointed assistant coach in March last year, is an Arjuna Awardee (1995) and was the captain of the Indian team from 1993-95. He also led India in the 1993 World Cup and in the Asian Games in 1994 at Hiroshima.
Gurbaj in trouble
Meanwhile, in another development, midfielder Gurbaj Singh finds himself in trouble after the Hockey India’s special committee recommended a disciplinary action against him for “misbehaviour and creating divide within the team”.
According to the report submitted by the coaching staff and the team manger, who accompanied the side to the HWL semifinals in Belgium, Gurbaj was found indulging in groupism and misbehaving with coaches.
The committee, headed by Olympian Harbinder Singh, has recommended disciplinary action against Gurbaj. “I don’t know about any such report. Let them (HI) seek an explanation first,” said Gurbaj.
Gurbaj faced similar charges during the 2012 London Olympics.