HI, selectors, Brasa responsible for captaincy controversy: Joaquim Carvalho

MUMBAI: Olympian Joaquim Carvalho on Thursday lashed out at Hockey India, selectors and chief coach Jose Brasa, holding them responsible for the captaincy controversy that threatens to derail India’s preparations for the forthcoming FIH World Cup.

Carvalho said the coach is in the best position to decide who should lead the side.

“The incidents surrounding the selection of the team to the captaincy issue are shameful. We have some spineless members in the selection committee. Brasa also is to be blamed if he had not debated the captaincy matter with the selectors,” Carvalho said.

“All these incidences will definitely disturb the players’ mind set. It will definitely have a psychological effect on them. These are all creations of Hockey India and they are to be blamed for the whole mess,” he said.

“The coach is involved with the players’ day in and day out. He is the best judge of the team composition. According to me, Brasa and his assistant coaches should have decided who should be the captain and told the selectors their choice.”

The former India coach also hinted that he was in favour of the rotation policy in captaincy as desired by Brasa.

“Earlier Brasa wanted a rotation policy in the captain’s role. First it was Sandeep (Singh) and then Rajpal (Singh) and now if he wants Prabhjot (Singh), what is HI’s problem?” Carvalho questioned.

He said that selectors like B P Govinda and Ajit Pal Singh have been there for countless years, but their association yielded no result so far.

“I question their (selectors) continuation as they have not achieved anything so far. They were responsible for the debacle in the last World cup and Asian Games,” he said.

“I took the morale responsibility and resigned when we did not qualify for the Olympics. But I am surprised that some of these selectors are shamelessly hanging there for donkeys years,” added Carvalho.

Carvalho also questioned Sports Ministry’s move to appoint Ajit Pal as the government nominee in the selection committee, saying there were far better players available for the job.

“What is Ajit Pal’s contribution excepting that he had led the national team to the World Cup once. Why the government did not nominate Olympians like H J S Chimney, Leslie Fernadez, M M Somaya?”