Master coach Brasa takes charge

4 May 2009

NEW DELHI: Spaniard Jose Brasa on Monday took over as the chief coach of the national hockey team, after signing a contract to this effect with th
e Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) master coach, who would be in charge at least till the Asian Games in November next year, came here early on Monday morning and attended a series of meetings, including the ones with sports minister MS Gill, top sports ministry officials as well as SAI officials. Brasa is Indian hockey’s second foreign coach after German Gerhard Rach.

Brasa appeared quite excited about the challenges he is likely to face in the coming days. He said he decided to come here despite being dissuaded by Ric Charlesworth, former technical advisor of Indian hockey and now the coach of Australian team. “I have been in touch with him (Charlesworth) and he asked me not to go ahead with it,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources told TOI that Brasa seemed quite positive about his assignment. “He sounded very positive and said he is eager to work hard and take Indian hockey to a new level,” the source said.

“In the first place, he has shown interest in learning Hindi. He believes it would help him in communicating with the players in a better way.”

In fact, sports minister MS Gill later said that the government would provide Brasa the facility to learn Hindi.

Brasa, who would be getting a salary of 7000 euros (Rs 4.6 lakh) per month till the Asian Games, when his performance as well as that of the team would be reviewed, would be heading to Malaysia in a day or two to be with the Indian team which is there to defend its Asia Cup title. Though Harendra Singh is in charge of the team for the event, Brasa will use the tournament to familiarise himself with the players and their playing styles.

Courtesy: Times of India