We need leaders, not captains: Harendra Singh

New Delhi: Coach Harendra Singh was at pains to explain that everything was hunky-dory in the hockey team. However, by admitting that he had spoken to skipper Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh about the captaincy issue, Harendra indirectly hinted that there had been a tussle within the squad.

“There is no politics in the team. Rajpal and Prabhjot may be justified in putting across their points, but the grievances should be put forward to concerned officials (selectors) of Hockey India (HI),” Harendra said on Thursday. Much of the time at the long-awaited interaction with the media, which has been barred from watching practice sessions or interact with players at the team hotel, was spent on discussing the issue of captaincy after reports that Prabhjot enjoyed the confidence of chief national coach Jose Brasa and a majority of the players.

Harendra said that captaincy did not enhance the stature of a player and gave examples in support of his viewpoint. “Dhanraj Pillay played in three Olympics but was not captain in even one of them. That does not mean his stature becomes any less. Indian hockey needs leaders, not captains,” was his contention. “In our national cricket team, a great player like Sachin Tendulkar plays under MS Dhoni, so why can’t this happen in other games?”

About the ongoing camp at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Harendra said the hard work seemed to be showing results in the way the team had been shaping.

“Since Jose Brasa has taken over, the players have improved in fitness and rotation of the ball. We are in the process of developing considerable depth in drag-flicking and that should reflect in the results,” said Harendra, who hoped the team would make a winning start against Pakistan when World Cup commences on February 28.

But Harendra conceded that the team was yet to be tested against teams like Australia and Holland. “We have played 48 matches in the last 15 months, but could have done with some more matches against top teams.”