MANUJA VEERAPPA

BENGALURU

The post of goalcoach in the Indian women’s hockey team has been up for grabs for a while now. After Olympian A.B Subbaiah’s exit in 2007, Karnataka coach Khalid Modi had a stint in November last year but left a few days later following a clash of ideals with his employers.

With the issue sorted out, however, the former goalkeeper joined the camp in Bhopal on December 1.

Speaking to this newspaper, Modi said, “I was with the team for a brief while in November, but there were a few issues which needed to be addressed at that point of time. But now I’ve joined the team and my contract runs until the Commonwealth Games next year.”

Modi is eager to see the girls perform at the World Cup next year (August-September in Argentina) before heading back home for the Commonwealth Games.

“We currently have six goalkeepers at the camp. All of them are good in their own ways. Now we are working on the weaknesses of these girls,” said Modi Speaking about Modi’s appointment, chief coach M.K Kaushik said, “Due to a misunderstanding, Khalid’s appointment was delayed. I’m glad that he has joined the team now and having a goalkeeping coach takes the additional burden off me.”

Spurred by India’s second place finish at the Asia Cup last month, Hockey India has also given in to Kaushik’s demand for a psy chologist.

“I’ve have always believed it is very important to have a team psychologist since we are involved in camps for long periods. We now have a Delhi-based psychologist with the team. We also have a video-analyst. The only other requirement we have is a female manager who can stay with the campers.”

Kaushik dismissed reports that the team would have to do without overseas matches before the hectic 2010 schedule.

“We will have an exposure tour. The proposal has already been submitted to Hockey India, according to which the team will leave for a tour of the US, Canada and Argentina in the last week of February.”