New Delhi, August 4
Lashing out at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), former technical advisor to Indian hockey, Ric Charlesworth today said the ”inflexibility” of the governing body will always be an obstacle for any foreign coach to work in the country.

“Over the last few weeks, it has been clear that some (mostly unnamed) figures do not see a role for me and clearly as long as SAI controls the resources for the sport without any flexibility, it would be difficult for me or any international coach to operate. Therefore, the outcome is not surprising and vindicates my resignation. As an advisor there was nothing more I could do,” Chalesworth said in a statement.

Chalesworth, whose term with the Indian hockey ended rather abruptly a few weeks ago, is in the country to collect his personal belongings and settle his financial dues.

He also downplayed the SAI’s claim that during his tenure, the Australian submitted only two reports on his observations and added that he will put forward all his reports once his financial dues are cleared.

“I have written more than 10 reports with many recommendations. Not all of these have been passed on to SAI or the IHC yet as I will only do so when my salary arrears and invoices are paid. Had these matters been settled in a timely manner, then all reports would have been submitted at the time of completion (the first was written in February),” he added.

With no official contract, Charlesworth began to work for Indian hockey from December 2007, but soon he decided to quit the job after India failed to qualify for Bejing Olympics during the Chile debacle. But the debacle prompted the Australian to sign the contract with the SAI.

“Following my exclusion from a return to India for the women’s camp in Lucknow and the Chile Olympic qualifier, I was ready to call it off, but was persuaded to continue. The turmoil after the defeat in Santiago witnessed by all in March led to a contract finally being put in front of me and with the IHF and IWHF agreeing to pay what SAI owed me I signed in the hope that things would improve,” he stated. However, he added that the last few months in India after the IOA took over, proved to be the most rewarding and enterprising. — UNI