S. Kannan in New Delhi

Strange are the ways the adhoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association functions. At a time when people are speculating when Spaniard Jose Brasa will come and take over the reins of Indian hockey, it appears nothing has moved forward with regard to his appointment.

And if anyone is to take the blame for it, it is the adhoc committee which has done nothing more than forwarding a bunch of emails it received from Brasa to the Sports Authority of India.

One would have thought after the Ric Charlesworth fiasco, people running hockey in the country would be more careful. But as it transpires, the emails which Brasa has written to the adhoc committee members have not been used to make out a draft contract for the Spaniard, forcing the SAI to shoot back a letter.

It is believed the big bosses in the SAI ,who have to take up the matter with the Sports Ministry, are peeved as nothing concrete has been worked out. “It is ridiculous the way the adhoc body has dealt with the matter. They have not even made out a case whether they want to hire the services of Brasa till the 2010 Asian Games or seek a longer term till the 2012 Olympics,” said an official.

Brasa had meetings with the adhoc committee officials in January and spelt out what he wanted. But it now appears the FIH master coach has actually asked for more than what the Indian government can possibly afford. Take for instance his salary. As per the emails he wrote, he wants Euros 80,000 to 1,00,000 as salary per annum.

Even if that be accepted, the much more difficult condition he has put is that it be “tax free.”

According to SAI officials, this can never be accepted as no exceptions have been made in the past on foreign coaches who have been hired by India in various disciplines.

Brasa’s demand does not stop there. He seems already confident that after he takes over, the Indian team will do well and wants a bonus to be paid. He has apparently asked for 15 to 45 per cent as bonus per year on what he will be paid as salary!

Some people in the ministry and SAI are already wondering if this is what it is going to take for the improvement of Indian hockey .

Another queer demand made by Brasa, who wants to be based in India is that the Indian Government pays for his “children’s education.”

This apart, when Brasa had made his presentation, he had talked of having a foreign trainer with him. It now transpires, he is suggesting almost half a dozen trainers from abroad, the bill for which has not been specified.

The point is, if Brasa has been forwarding his wish-list in instalments, why has the adhoc committee not taken a firm stand. As it were, huge time has been wasted and the Indian team is now touring Australia under Harendra Singh.

Last but not the least, Brasa has asked for a ‘service girl’ which officials think is a request for a maid servant.

Last heard, the SAI has written a letter to the adhoc committee bosses – Suresh Kalmadi and Randhir Singh — asking for a draft contract with clarity for Brasa’s case to be considered. How long it will take, nobody knows.

But the great hunt for a foreign hockey coach has surely got mired in controversy already.

Courtesy: Mail Today