Juniors playing at senior level ahead of WC is a concern: Gregg Clark

Winning the Sultan of Johor Cup must have been a great moment. What kind of preparations did you mark out for the boys?
For those that played in the final last year, that experience would have stood them in good stead for this year’s final. We had specific targets for the match and had identified specific aspects which we wanted to get right. Fortunately for us, the boys executed the game plan very well and it showed in the result.

You’ve placed a lot of emphasis on consistency, both individually and collectively as a team, which is showing in the performances. How have you made it click?
Yes, I believe it is the hallmark of a good team, as well as a good player. Being able to produce close to your best everytime you take to the field makes one a formidable player and if a team is made up of a number of these players, it makes a formidable team. We have put an emphasis on trying to be our best at every single training, the natural consequence should be that we can produce close to our best every time we walk on to the pitch...training or competition.

It’s been almost six months since you took over as coach of the junior team. What kind of talent do you see at the grassroots level? Could you also give your thoughts on the kind of facilities being provided to budding hockey players?
Unfortunately, I have been too busy with the junior team’s preparations to travel the country scouting and checking facilities. I did attend junior and senior nationals. The depth of talent in India is undoubted, although I do think that the number of quality astro turf facilities needs to be improved/increased so that more players/teams are exposed to astro turf as the skill-set required for astro hockey is really different from that of grass hockey.

The likes of Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh – to name a few – have played a huge role in the team’s success. You thoughts on them, and any other players you think that have made an impact?
I really thought that each and every player who participated at the Johor Cup contributed excellently to the team’s success. Yes, we have some players with big reputations, but the players know that for us to be successful, each and every player needs to contribute to their full potential.

About six or seven of the junior boys also play in the senior team and participate in all their tournaments and camps. Does that concern you, because there’s the all-important World Cup in December
Yes, it is a concern, but their focus for the next couple of months will be solely on the JWC process.

There’s been a lot of debate around hockey circles about foreign coaches coming to India and trying to instill the European/Australian style of  hockey on our boys. When you took over as the coach, you spoke about retaining the natural flair of Indian hockey. Do you think that’s the key as far as coaching in India is concerned?
I do, but that may not be the same for all foreign coaches. I think there are aspects of the Indian style of play that other international teams wish they could reproduce. I am trying to harness these aspects, whilst trying to eradicate aspects that other teams might perceive as ‘traditional weaknesses’ of Indian teams.

Many former Indian national players want an Indian to coach the teams, especially after our senior men’s indifferent performances lately and with Michael Nobbs’s departure. Your thoughts on this...
I can understand their opinion. India has a proud hockey history. It is not for me to say who is right and who is wrong in this regard. I have been asked to do a job, and I am going to do it to the best of my ability. I am glad that it is perceived by some that I am making a positive contribution.

Lastly, the Junior World Cup is just a couple of months away. What are your plans going into the big tournament? And, can India realistically expect a medal from our junior boys?
The plans are to try and continue to improve each and every day between now and the start of the JWC. If the team plays to its potential, then I think we can be very competitive in the competition.