Senior players back Dhanraj to be coach

Senior players have backed former captain Dhanraj Pillay to be the chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, saying the mercurial forward’s immense experience and knowledge can do wonders for the national side.

Indian men’s hockey team is without a coach since last month’s Guangzhou Asian Games, where they won a bronze. While national coach Harendra Singh has resigned immediately after India lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals of the Guangzhou Games, chief coach Jose Brasa’s contract has expired and is unlikely to renewed.

With the position up for grabs, Dhanraj has recently thrown his hat in the ring by expressing his desire to be the coach, which got impetus from the players.

“Dhanraj has been the role model for all of us. We have grown up seeing him playing. He knows the requirement of Indian players better then anybody else,” ace midfielder Arjun Halappa said. — PTI