New hockey coach Nobbs to focus on game’s development

NEW DELHI: Australian Michael Jack Nobbs has been appointed India’s new hockey coach and given a long tenure of five years to get the eight-time Olympic champions back as a major hockey power.

In his first interaction with the media, Nobbs said though his immediate priority is to see India qualify for the 2012 Olympics, his focus will be on long-term development of the game in the country.

The Australian will be racing against time to get the team ready for the Champions Trophy in December and then the Olympic qualifiers in February, both in Delhi.

“Indian hockey has an attractive style. I have grown up on Indian hockey and now I want to give something back to India. Australian hockey is hugely influenced by India. There are many Anglo-Indian coaches in Australia. Australian team has been successful and so can India,” the soft-spoken Nobbs said.

The Indian team has been without a foreign coach since Spaniard Jose Brasa left at the end of the Guangzhou Asian Games in November. His assistant Harendra Singh took the team to Azlan Shah Cup last month and could not retain the title.

That pressed the panic button among hockey administrators and spurred their hunt for a foreign coach. A frenetic activity in the last 15 days led the administrators to Nobbs, who vouches by the style of Indian hockey, similar to the Australian way.

Nobbs pipped renowned coach Roelant Oltmans of the Netherlands to the post. Another Dutch, Jacques Brinkman, was also in fray. The three had made detailed presentations about their vision for Indian hockey Tuesday.

“The first thing would be to identify where Indian hockey stands at present, talk to the players and analyse where we actually are. I know that qualifying for the Olympics is important, but we have to think of the long term development,” said Nobbs.

“I am not standing alone in this process. If Indian hockey has to succeed, it has to revolve around administrators, players and fan support.”

Nobbs said he is not thinking about the bitter experiences foreign coaches like Ric Charlesworth and Brasa had in the past here. “I have come here with no reservations.”

On whether he would like to have complete say in selection matter, something which Brasa had raised and which is followed by international teams like Australia, Nobbs said: “I do not want a complete free hand, but I want to have the final say. It is important for me to take inputs from others.”

Nobbs, who played as centre half for Australia, served as assistant coach of the Japan women’s team (1993-1999) and then as their chief coach (2007-08). He is also a club coach in Western Australia and has the experience of working at the grassroots level.

Nobbs will join the national camp this weekend. He will be assisted by David John, an exercise physiologist, to analyse the players. Nobbs will be paid 10,000 Australian dollars a month and John 5000 Australian dollar.

A committee comprising officials of Hockey India (HI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI), government representatives and Olympians finalised Nobbs’s name, said SAI director general Desh Deepak Verma.

“The selection was based on several factors, his experience, organising capabilities, bio data and his presentation. What weighed in Nobb’s favour is that the Australian style of play is similar to that of India. We thought if Australia has excelled adopting that style, why can’t we do following our traditional approach.”

Verma said if India qualify for the Olympics, Nobbs will get a 10 percent salary hike as incentive. “The terms and conditions of the salary will be further revised after the 2012 Olympics.”