MUMBAI, May 12: Olympian Gavin Ferreira will not assist Mumbai's hockey squad to the National Championships scheduled to commence in Bangalore on May 14.

Ferreira, currently playing professional hockey in France will not be released by his club, FC Lyon for the championships.

Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) secretary, KL Passi told Express Newsline that Ferreira, who played at the Atlanta Olympics last year, informed the BHA by letter through his father who visited the Mahindra Stadium, today.

As a result, the Mumbai team for Bangalore remains unchanged from that announced before the Nationals were postponed. However, former Customs player Mukul Pandey replaces PS Sujlana as manager of the squad. Sujlana has opted out because of a family commitment.

Meanwhile the 16-strong squad returned home today after a training session in Pune to get the feel of the poligras surface there. Training included three practice matches of which the squad won two (Services and Maharashtra) and lost one (Services). A session of training at the Mahindra Stadium tomorrow morning will precede departure to Bangalore, expected to be either on Wednesday or Thursday. Mumbai play their first match on May 17.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.