Brasa believes India can be world class again

New Strait Times

Malaysia

INDIA’S newly appointed chief coach Jose Manuel Brasa’s immediate goals are to guide the national team to a podium finish in the World Cup in New Delhi (March 7-20) and win the gold medal in the Asian Games in Guangzhou (Nov 12-27) — both next year.

Brasa is aware that he faces a tough task but the 55-year-old Spanish-born coach believes India are capable of making it big again in world hockey.

“If the India players play with their hearts and soul then it is possible to finish on the podium in the World Cup. It’s too short period to prepare a well-tuned side to win the World Cup but India players are skillful and with a little bit of change in their style it will surely be an improvement for them,” said Brasa, who was the man behind Spain’s women winning gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, in Kuantan yesterday.

“My aim is to put India on a path that will take them to greater heights. I will only select the best players to represent the country. I have been given freedom to pick the players and plan the training system.”

India’s only World Cup title was achieved in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur when the then side, captained by Ajitpal Singh, edged Pakistan 2-1 in the final.

Brasa, also a former indoor hockey coach, signed a contract with the India Government to coach the national team till in the 2010 Asian Games with a possible two-year extension to his contract.

“I’m not in India to make immediate changes. The best style may only work for some teams and this is why I need to understand the culture of the game in India first before introducing new things,” said Brasa, who will takeover the coaching duties of the India team after the 8th AirAsia Men’s Asia Cup in Kuantan.