RIC STILL AWAITS DUES AS BRASA CLOSES IN ON COACHING JOB

JOSE Brasa moved a step closer to becoming Indian men’s hockey chief coach on Saturday but our sports officials will have to change the way they deal with foreign coaches in order to have a tension- free tenure with the Spaniard.

It seems that Ric Charlesworth, who had left India in disgust last year, has still not received his dues from the sports ministry.

In an email to MAIL TODAY the Australia men’s coach confirmed that he has still not being paid the money, though he did not say what was causing the delay.

“ Your assumption is correct. I have not received my dues,” said Charlesworth in his mail.

Sources in the ad hoc committee confirmed to M AIL T ODAY that the ministry still has to pay the remainder of Charlesworth’s dues, though they are in regular touch with the Australian and have assured him his payments.

“ There were some snags pertaining to his date of joining and once that is cleared there will be no more delays,” the source said.

Meanwhile, officials in the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India have been impressed with the Spaniard’s presentation and his resume and have already handed him a contract to consider.

“ The contract is not the final draft but it contains all the information that Brasa should go over during his return to home,” said a member of the IOArun ad hoc committee, adding that they have asked Brasa to state his terms and conditions after reading the draft.

“ More than his terms and conditions it will the salary he demands which would be the deciding factor in his appointment. Frankly speaking, the ministry has said that since the Commonwealth Games are near, spending high amounts of money on coaches will not be a problem,” said the committee member.

“ We have given him an offer and I’m guessing he will go through it on his return to Spain. The ball is in his court now and he now has to quote his salary.

There is a possibility that all this may not be finalised but as of now things are moving smoothly.”

DIWAKAR TO THE RESCUE

Captain Diwakar Ram slammed four goals including two late strikes to help India eke out a 5- 5 draw against Malaysia in an inconsequential final league match of the men’s event in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney on Saturday.

In a high- scoring crowd stunner at the Hockey Centre in Sydney, Diwakar converted four penalty corners to save the day for the Indians.

In the summit clash, the Indian colts will now take on Australia, whom they have defeated in their earlier league encounter. In the girls’ event, India at last registered their first victory of the tournament, beating USA 2- 0.

Courtesy: Mail Today