Jothikumaran contradicts IHF chief KPS Gill, says the coach will be chosen from the lot doing duty at the ongoing PHL.
MUMBAI: Here’s the latest twist to the knotty problems of Indian hockey. In typical IHF (Indian Hockey Federation) style, its secretary-general K Jothikumaran says there’s no need of a foreign coach for the Indian team. Jothi’s stand on the issue contradicts what the IHF president, KPS Gill, had said just after the Indian team’s debacle at the World Cup in September. Gill had told the media they were planning to hire former Germany coach Paul Lissek to improve the standard of Indian hockey.
But on Tuesday, Jothikumaran told DNA that the IHF was not even looking at a foreign coach. “At this stage we are not looking at the foreign coach issue,” he said, while adding that the new incumbent will certainly be an Indian. He, however, didn’t comment on the future of Vasudevan Baskaran, whose tenure ended with the Doha Asian Games in December.
Fuelling further speculations, Jothikumaran said the next chief coach would be selected from among those involved in the ongoing Premier Hockey League. “Whoever gives his best (the criterias are not clear, as always) in the PHL will be considered for the camp,” he added.
The Indian team is expecting tough competition to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and not having a coach at this stage sure sounds frightening. But then, does anybody care?
‘IHF not blocking FIH project’
Jothikumaran also denied allegations that the IHF was blocking the international project which was launched a few months back to improve the standard of Indian hockey. Last week, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) had, in a subtle message through the media, said their expert had submitted his report to the IHF more than two months ago and that the project was waiting to enter the second phase (Read: Action from IHF).
Jothikumaran said he had already replied to the FIH representative (Bab Davidzson) in November-end. “I personally wrote to him, saying that after the Asian Games and PHL, we will first talk to our partners on the PHL board and the state associations about the FIH report. And, then we will get back. So, where is the delay?” he asked.
He also claimed that some of the “concerns” raised in the FIH report had already been taken care of. “We are holding clinics for umpires in Chennai with the international expert who is officiating at the PHL. For creating more artificial turfs, we are talking to SAI officials,” he added.
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