Hindustantimes: Ministry turns down HI’s request for foreign coach
Share
hockey
Ministry turns down HI’s request for foreign coach
Saurabh Duggal, Hindustan Times
Contrary to the wishes of Hockey India (HI), the sports ministry has turned down its request for a foreign coach for the men’s team. Even before the start of the camp for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in mid-March, HI had placed its case before the ministry. Sukhbir Grewal, HI’s director coaching, had written to Narinder Batra, the secretary-general, recommending the need for a foreign coach and HI had forwarded Grewal’s request to the ministry.
“I was categorical in saying that Indian hockey requires a foreign coach, and badly,” Grewal had said in his recommendation. “If Jose Brasa, who is not among the world’s top-10 coaches, was capable of raising the standard of Indian hockey, imagine what can happen if a coach of repute would take on the responsibility of the India team.”
HI had even short-listed two foreign coaches, but the ministry didn’t approve the names.
Confirming HI’s request, a senior ministry official said, “We had got a request from HI, but after giving it proper thought, we rejected it.”
The ministry has derecognised HI and till the time it is recognised, the prerogative to name national coaches will lie with the ministry.
“Till the time HI doesn’t get recognition, it can only recommend names, but the final call will be ours,” said a senior official of the Sports Authority of India, requesting anonymity.
“The future course has been decided in the steering committee meeting and the roadmap to the London Olympics has been finalised. So, we don’t think there is scope for change on the coaching front,” he said.
The only option before HI is to hire a foreign coach from their own resources.
“The ministry has told us that they don’t have money for a foreign coach,” said a HI official.
Pargat Singh, who heads the committee which is scouting for a foreign coach, said, “I had short-listed two foreign coaches but nothing happened. At this point, it is difficult to get a foreign coach because they have a calendar and by this time everyone must have tied up with some team.”
1 Comment
Leave a Comment
The latest & greatest news, reviews, scores and players from Field Hockey,
I think we Hockey lovers need to stop watch Hockey.We played hockey and we want to see our Hockey on respected Level in world.But we know why the European and otehr countries are ahead from us in Games.They are working with system and here everyone wants to stick on big posts and no passion to serve.They are thinking as SARKAY BABUs.Our Hockey not need to best only but need more than the best efforts to do.Here we are not doing even our best.So what we can expect from Hockey.Media is also playing his role for the games from where they can more TRP.But No one is serious for our game.In commonwealth games scams world saw everything.How we can think about Olympic games?We have more Manishankar Ayer here to whom noone knows as when he was sports minister but he came in lime light after his statements.Media going for his statement,making the famous without anything.Today is teh need to make a movement for Hockey and otehr games.So we can feel proud where all world players are represnting there country and making their country proud.we want to see our TIRANGA Also in world stage.We are doing our best if we think but its not enouh so its the time t odo mor ethan our best.
PLEASE SAVE OUR GAMES and Our NATIONAL GAMES.
Thanks.