If we had the power, we would have sacked Brasa: Hockey India

NEW DELHI: Reacting strongly to chief coach Jose Brasa’s accusation that he was “treated like a slave”, Hockey India on Friday said that if they had the authority they would have sacked the coach immediately.

“All he’s said are all lies. He’s a very average coach and he knows that his contract will not be renewed after the Asian Games. As such he has very limited knowledge as a coach and exhausted this knowledge in the initial days itself,” HI secretary Narender Batra told TOI.

SAI ( Sports Authority of India) as his employers have been good enough to tolerate him for such a long time. Had HI been his employers, we would have sacked him immediately. In fact we wanted him to go after the World Cup in March.”

Asked whether HI would take up the matter with SAI, he replied in the negative. “They don’t recognise us, so no point in writing to them over the issue.”

Batra said Brasa was part of all the selection committees since his appointment. “He’s been a signatory to all team lists.” Meanwhile, agency reports suggested that Brasa was upset after his request to include Prabhjot Singh in the team for the Commonwealth Games was not entertained by HI. The 30-year-old Prabhjot, a senior member in the Indian team, was dropped from the squad after India’s poor performance in the World Cup at home.

Sources in HI said that Brasa’s “limited knowledge” in drag-flick forced the authorities to get in Jugraj Singh as an expert.

A news agency also reported that Brasa was gagged by the SAI after his outburst. “I am sorry I can’t speak to any journalist. I have been forbidden by my employer SAI this afternoon to give any interviews to journalists till the Commonwealth Games,” Brasa said. “They asked me not to speak to any journalist as it might hamper the team’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games. But definitely, I will speak to you guys after the Games.”