Brasa in India for hockey coach’s job

By Sandeep Narayan in New Delhi

SPANISH coaching expert Jose Brasa, who has been touted as the prime candidate for the men’s hockey team’s chief coach post, arrived in India late night on Tuesday.

Sources in the ad hoc committee told M AIL T ODAY that the coach had his first interaction with both ad hoc committee members and also with Sports Authority of India officials.

“ He made a presentation today and people from the ad hoc committee, including some selectors, were present. SAI, including DG SAI, and officials from the sports ministry’s steering committee were also present at the meeting,” a member of the ad hoc committee revealed.

He added that Brasa had a two hour long presentation that gave an overview of his plans and what he felt was holding Indian hockey back.

“ He mentioned that fitness was the main factor as to why our players were performing badly and also gave scientific evidence to back his claims. We were quite impressed by his presentation,” he added.

The coach did not meet IOA president Suresh Kalmadi and is expected to have a meeting with the IOA chief on Friday morning.

“ We saw his presentation, but before we confirm anything, we have to look at the terms and conditions. Basically, his salary would be the biggest issue and all these issues will be addressed on Friday.

” NO TA/ DA THIS TIME

The ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association, which is managing hockey affairs in the country currently, will not provide the players with TA/ DA for their current trip to Argentina.
p>
Sources told M AIL T ODAY that none of the players were provided with any foreign exchange for their South American tour, where they will play four tests against the hosts at Mar Del Plata.

According to sources, all the expenditure for the trip will be handled by the manager K Krishnamurthy. Sources also claimed that the players were seen withdrwaing large sums of money from ATMs in New Delhi before their departure.

“ The normal protocol during trips is that players are provided with allowances. And not just the players, but the entire coaching staff and the manager are also provided with the facility of TA/ DA,” said a source in the ad hoc committee.

“ This time however, we are spending around $ 115 per player per day which is more than the DA these players used to get. A lot of people may say that we are not spending money, but to be honest we are the ones who are actually spending the money first and then getting reimbursed by the government,” he defended.

“ As far as the players taking out money from the ATM goes, then anyone would do that before he leaves the country.

May be, they want to buy something from Argentina. But the rest, from food to travel and lodging, will be taken care of by us and the players will have no problems” Meanwhile, Indian captain Sandeep Singh may be in trouble for making a statement in which he said that India may not need a foreign coach. The source claimed that Sandeep may face disciplinary action on his return from Argentina.

“ He shouldn’t have made that statement. It’s not his job to decide the coach, that’s our job,” the source added.

JR TEAM IN FINAL

Indian men’s junior hockey team continued with their rampaging form and trounced Great Britain 6- 1 in the second league match of the Australian Youth Olympic Festival ( AYOF) at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Sydney to book their berth in the final of the four- nation tournament.

However, the junior women’s team lost their second successive match that dashed their hopes of progressing. The girls went down 1- 3 to Great Britain on Wednesday and suffered a 2- 3 defeat to Australia on Thursday.

Courtesy: Mail Today