Money is not an issue, says Brasa

NEW DELHI: Spaniard Jose Brasa should be able to land the job of India’s hockey coach without much of a hassle as he says pay package is not his p
rime concern and he is only looking for a decent tenure with a motivated support staff to work with.

“Money is not a problem at all. I am more interested in working with highly technical people till at least the 2012 London Olympic and also I need an assurance that I will get a compact team of professionals to assist me.”

Brasa said that the players must get the right kind of people and technical gadgets to train with if they have to be world beaters.

The Spaniard is happy that the Indian officials are receptive to his ideas and for him that’s half the job done. He, however, made it clear that he had not given any formal wishlist to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

“The talks with the Indian hockey officials have been very positive. They are keen to make India a top hockey nation again. I hope I will get the job and I can make a worthwhile contribution in motivating the players to perform well.”

“I have to do a little bit of study on the programme of the Indian senior team for the next few years. I am talking with my colleagues.”

“India chose to close themselves from technology and science for a long time and they have to make use of more and more technology to be on par with other major hockey nations.”

Brasa also said he would like to share his knowledge with as many Indian coaches as he could as these coaches would be working at the supply line of players. Barsa had made a two-hour powerpoint presentation to the members of the ad hoc committee for hockey set up by the IOA.

A member of the committee said the presentation was highly impressive as it had dealt with various aspects of the game as well as man management.

The Spaniard’s stress was on fitness of the players as he thought the ills of Indian hockey began with the introduction of synthetic turf in 1975.

He rounded off a series of meetings on Thursday-Friday interacting with IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi and the officials of the sports ministry.

Curiously, like the previous overseas coach of India, Ric Charleworth, Barsa has also trained his country’s women’s team to an Olympic gold medal, in 1992 at Barcelona.