Pillay favours Indian coaches
10 Jul 2009 by Krishna Kanta Chakraborty,TNN

CHENNAI: Dhanraj Pillay, now a selector in the newly-formed Hockey India, does not subscribe to the theory that foreign coaches are essential to the

Though he was reluctant to comment on Spaniard Jose Brasa’s appointment in particular, the former international, while on a visit to Chennai on Wednesday, felt Indian coaches are good for the job.

“I think we have good coaches in India. An all-time great like Dhayan Chand never played under any foreign coach. Brasa is a big coach and we expect a lot from him,” said Pillay.

“Hockey India is controlled by the Indian Olympic Association and it was IOA’s decision to hire Brasa and we all had to accept that. It was a new move and IOA feels Brasa will bring changes in Indian hockey. Let’s hope for the best.” the four-time Olympian added.

Pillay said the drop in national and state-level tournaments is a big concern. “Unless you organise a couple of national-level tournaments how will the boys get exposure. Moreover, these championships will make the selection job easy for us. There is no dearth of talent in India but we need to scout them properly,” Pillay explained.

On the Premier Hockey League (PHL), which did not take place last year, Pillay said: “It was a brainchild of former Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill. The status of the league is still unknown to us,” he said.

Pillay, known for taking up the players’ cause, said he had a proposal to offer Rs 50,000 salary per month to the players who represent the national team but the players were reluctant to come forward to support him.

“I don’t know what they are afraid of? They must learn to fight for their rights,” Pillay said.

The current Indian hockey team has done well under captain Sandeep Singh recently, except in the Asia Cup. Pillay felt it was a collective failure. The same bunch had won the Azlan Shah Cup.

“It was just a matter of a few bad games,” Pillay said adding “India are going to play 12 Tests against Spain, Belgium, England and Holland this month. It’ll be a huge exposure for them and I hope the boys will have a great campaign,” the former ace forward said.