Dilip Tirkey, who has represented India in 374 international matches, says it’s still not time to condemn the team or the coach.
He has seen many lows in Indian hockey, but not this one. Yet Dilip Tirkey, who has represented India in 374 international matches, says it’s still not time to condemn the team or the coach. He spoke to Vijay Tagore, the day after the team landed as fallen heroes from Chile. Here are some excerpts…
So what went wrong?
Nothing except the final. None of us played well that day. In 10 months we had one bad game and that was the final. The yellow cards to our players came at the wrong time. The standard in the tournament was not bad but in the final it was below par. The forward line went blank, midfield did not function properly and the deep defence was shoddy. So it was one complete bad game.
There was pressure to qualify. Did it affect anyway?
I’m not sure. We’ve played many pressure games before. Some pressure was put on the players by the tournament officials. Some officials had come to the team hotel and warned the players about the yellow cards. It had a negative effect.
How is the team as a unit?
It is a good team. There are no problems in the team. The captain is a very good leader. He has done well in the past.
And the coach...?
It is not right to single out the coach for our debacle. He has done his best. Under him the team did well in the Azlan Shah Cup and then again in the Asia Cup. So the coach should not be hanged for one bad tournament.
Do you think it is time for a foreign coach?
The Indian Hockey Federation is the right authority to take a decision on the coach. But my personal opinion is that Carvalho has done well.
Is there a need to overhaul the team?
It is a very good team. Some youngsters are very skillful, captain Prabodh is exceptionally talented. I think the IHF should persist with the players.
Which are the areas that need attention?
We’ve to improve in short corner conversion, attacking and marking. There can be improvement in defence too.
Is the fitness of the players good enough?
Fitness levels are not bad. But I agree we fall short when we take on robust and big-built players from Australia or the Netherlands. The body play of the Europan teams is, of course, difficult to match.
What about your own future. Do you want to continue or retire?
I wanted to play in Beijing. It would have been my fourth Olympics. As of now, I’ve not thought about my future. I want to take a 10-day break and then I’ll decide.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}