What happens when a group that had set out to achieve a target suddenly begins to think along different lines? This is exactly what has happened with reports of a rift between the Indian hockey players and coach Jose Brasa emerging.

On the surface it may seem like a battle of the old and the new — Brasa’s innovative methods versus the players’ reluctance to adapt and come out of their comfort zones.
The trouble, it is learnt, lies somewhere else.

With India lined up to play three major tournaments next year — the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games at home, followed by the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China — Brasa’s approach towards the World Cup in New Delhi has been a major bone of contention.

Looking to build a core group, Brasa has been training the team like most European teams do. The focus clearly is on the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games. The Spaniard also has been very vocal that “not much should be expected” from the squad at the Delhi World Cup beginning February 28.

This comes in sharp contrast to the players’ view, who are keen on a good show at home — it is make or mar event for Indian hockey after the Olympics debacle, feel most. Many are also not sure they will survive if India come a cropper in the megaspectacle.

“Leave aside us, will Brasa survive?” ask the players. “If anyone’s thinking that the coach and the same set of players will continue despite a below-par show at the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in front of the home crowds, he is mistaken big time.

“In India, hockey is not just a game, it has emotions attached to it. Neither the media nor the fans will accept a no-show, especially when you have had a foreign coach for almost an year,” is what the players feel.

The seniors, in particular, are perturbed as a good show in the World Cup is the only way to cement their places in the next two events.

“At a stage when we should be talking strategy and planning, we are stuck with correcting the basics in training camps. Brasa has been a good coach all this while, but he has to understand that things don’t work like this in India.

“He can train us the way he wants to, but to keep the World Cup and Commonwealth Games out of the picture is simply not done. What if Hockey India sacks him after the World Cup. Where does it leave all of us?” a player asked.

On Thursday in Pune, the players aired their problems to Mattoo, who later held a detailed meeting with Brasa.
The Hockey India president, is was learnt, even told the players that Brasa could be removed if things didn’t change in the near future.

When asked, Brasa defended his methods saying: “Do the players decide how to train?
“I have a long-term plan with the team and that is the way it should be. Mattoo told me about the players’ problems today. I believe some of the senior players only want to focus on the World Cup, and if that is the case, I am ready to listen to them.

“Even I know that we are close to the World Cup, and now is the actual time to get into strategy mode. We will surely be doing that,” he said.

About the players absence from the camp, Brasa said, “Some of the senior members chose to stay away, and I do not know the reasons. I was in the hospital for treatment and still tried to call them up.

“It is true that I have fitter players in the camp than a few seniors who are reluctant to come. It is possible that they might be thinking that they are not in my scheme of things for the World Cup. But you only win if you try. Come and put in some hard work is all I would say. The door is open for everyone,” Brasa said.

SANDEEP OR RAJPAL?

A week after Hockey India named Rajpal Singh as captain replacing Sandeep Singh, Mattoo on Thursday made a U-turn saying the body was yet to decide on the issue. “We cannot say that Sandeep is not the captain.
He is very much in the team, unless he is physically unfit,” Mattoo said.

Interestingly, Sandeep is at loggerheads with Brasa as the latter recently said that the drag-flicker was not up to the mark during the Canada series. On his meeting with the coach, Matoo said, “I think Brasa should stop complaining. I have told him that there should be an exchange of ideas with the support staff and the players.” Brasa’s focus clearly is on the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games. The Spaniard has been very vocal that “not much should be expected” from the squad at the Delhi World Cup beginning February 28.
This comes in sharp contrast to the players’ view, who are keen on a good show at home — it is make or mar event for Indian hockey after the Olympics debacle, feel most.