‘Tactics, fitness need work’
Uthra Ganesan

Jan 16, 2009: Spain’s Brasa front-runner for Indian coach’s jobNew Zealand confirm entry, Pak withdrawPakistan cancels hockey team’s tour to IndiaHockey squad announced
New Delhi: The wheels are finally moving for the appointment of a foreign coach for the Indian Hockey team. Spaniard Jose Brasa, considered a front-runner for the job, is in town and on Thursday, he had a long meeting with the IOA’s ad-hoc committee and sports ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials, presenting his views and ideas on India hockey.

A member of the ad-hoc committee, who was present at the meeting, said that the meeting went well and Brasa appeared genuinely interested in working with Indian hockey. “He is a very well qualified coach and was completely clued into the present scenario of Indian hockey. He had his facts clear and had some good ideas,” the member said.

When contacted, Brasa refused to divulge anything. However, he did say he was impressed with Indian players. “I think they are very skillful and experienced, but I think there is need for improvement in tactics and physical fitness. Unfortunately, they have not won any world-level medal in the last 30 years.

“I saw some of the Indian men’s players in Madrid — at the Club de Campo — and I was impressed. I also saw the Indian women play in 2006 and I think they are very, very skillful, their results should have been much better. But I am sure that can improve.”

Brasa, who is an International Hockey Federation (FIH) Masters coaching degree holder and has also completed the FIH High Performance coaching course, guided the Spanish women’s team to the 1992 Olympics gold.

Sources say that Brasa’s presentation included his vision of how to better things in indian hockey for both men and women.

False impression

Interestingly, when Brasa was contacted before his meeting with the officials, he had no idea about the current Indian coach, and was under the impression that Joaquim Carvalho was still at the helm. Carvalho had quit after KPS Gill was removed and the IHF suspended in May 2008.

However, the official added that in the first interaction, Brasa did appear confident of himself and his job. However, he refused to confirm or deny whether Brasa would, in fact, be confirmed as the foreign coach.

“Brasa has the right credentials and the experience. He comes with a very good track record. But there are still issues that have not been discussed yet.

“The money to be paid, his exact job structure, his stay here, his family… these are all things we have to talk about. The next two days will be for these. We also need to talk to the sports ministry and SAI officials, since they will take a final decision,” he said.

The ad-hoc committee official added that, in case things did work out, Brasa would be finalised soon and no other foreign coach would be invited.

The new coach would take charge after the four-nation tournament in Chandigarh later this month.