Brasa, team ask HI to replace Rajpal

New Delhi , Feb. 8: In a move that could mean curtains for Rajpal Singh’s stint as skipper, striker Prabhjot Singh on Monday got the “green signal” from chief coach Jose Brasa and the 18-member World Cup squad, backing the latter to lead the side instead. The development comes two days after Hockey India named Rajpal as skipper despite Brasa picking Prabhjot for the job.

Brasa called an emergency team meeting here on Monday afternoon, asking the players for their choice of captain for the 12-nation event. As many as 14 gave their vote of confidence to Prabhjot and the decision was conveyed to Hockey India officials on the day, it was learnt here. Said a senior member of the team, “Almost everyone agreed that Prabhjot should be the captain in place of Rajpal.

“He has already played two World Cups and deserves to lead the team. The coach is firm on this, and also the players. A mail has been sent to Hockey India asking them to replace Rajpal as skipper.”

With 20 days to go for the World Cup, the selectors, it is believed, did not want any changes at the helm and hence decided to persist with Rajpal. “What is the harm in changing the captain if I am giving you the best man for the job,” was Brasa’s view, according to the team members.

In the last six months, Brasa has tried out various players for the job — in a bid to gauge their leadership qualities — and zeroed in on Rajpal during the Champions Challenge-I held in Salta, Argentina, in December 2009.

Things, however, took a turn during the recent players’ revolt when Rajpal — chosen as the players’ representative to deal with Hockey India — wilted under pressure, evoking his teammates’ ire.

Said a senior member, “People talk of unity in the team, but if the entire team and the coach want to play under Prabhjot, what is the problem? “Things haven’t been steady under Rajpal after he failed to handle the payment issue properly.”

For years, there have been no set rules on who — either the coach or the selectors — picks the captain, but Brasa had been the man for the job since his appointment in June last year.

The Spaniard had earlier removed Sandeep Singh, after the drag-flicker had failed to give his best under pressure situations. “Some pressure should be taken off the defender’s shoulders,” Brasa had said then.

Said national coach Harendra Singh, “I was not consulted before choosing the captain, so I shouldn’t be asked any questions on this.
“Though as a norm, the honour (to lead the side) has gone to the seniormost member of the team in the last many years.”

Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra maintained that there would no change in captaincy at any stage.

Age Correspondent