Brasa’s heavily-accented chants of “upar dekho (look up)” echo at the empty Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City on the outskirts of Pune as those dribbling on the astro-turf come to terms with the new coach, his new tactics and the new possibilities. The loud and repeated reminders are directed at those who fix their gaze on hockey sticks and remain blind to the possibilities of passing around them. This message, though, is somehow also relevant to the entire team. Brasa feels the talented bunch that he took under his wing recently deserves to be among the hockey elite, and so, should aim high.

But this is just one of the several fresh ideas Brasa has floated at the camp. “Skill is at the heart of Indian hockey and there is no dearth of skilful players in India. My aim is to combine their skills with efficient passing so we can enhance the team’s performance,” says the coach.

The stakes are high for Brasa, considering the timing of his appointment. With several inconsistent international outings behind and a few big opportunities ahead, Indian hockey is at a crossroads. There are three big tournaments coming up — a couple of them at home — and it means that Brasa and his tactics will be under the scanner very soon. The year 2010 could prove to be make-or-break time for Indian hockey, with the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, plus the Asian Games scheduled for December in Guangzhou figuring in a hectic international calendar.

No fixed addresses

And that is the reason Brasa is wasting no time in implementing the ideas with which he plans to change India’s fortunes. Eavesdrop on one of his conversations with skipper and defender Sandeep Singh after a training session and the working style of the straight-talking coach is clear. Sandeep is a bit shocked when Brasa asks him why he stuck to a defensive position. “You may be a defender, but you must play like a midfielder and get into attacking positions as well,” says the coach.

It’s a common adjustment that every member of the Indian team has to make, minus the goalkeeper of course, in the new scheme of things. Brasa has introduced a ‘10 midfielders’ plan, where none of the players will be confined to one position. This system means that the forwards will not hesitate to play a withdrawn role and the defenders will be egged on to push forward and create scoring chances.

Although Sandeep took time to adjust to the new technique, he is happy that the change will help raise the efficiency of the team. “The new style is going to improve our first-time passing. The defenders will be able to pass the ball out of a tight situation rather than just clearing it,” says the 23-year-old drag-flick expert.

Like many other experienced players in the team, Rajpal Singh, whose resume shows 66 India appearances, is of the view that the techniques might not be wholly new, but Brasa’s clarity of thought has made things easier. “Brasa, while explaining each technique, also dwells on its benefits. We are told about the practical implementation of each drill in match situations and that helps,” says Rajpal.

Rajpal is clearly excited. “We go through countless passing drills these days. The idea is to develop an understanding among the players. The timing of the pass and reading the body language of the receiver are vital points. We have been told to have a neutral passing action to avoid interception,” he adds.

Another regular in the midfield, Arjun Halappa, says the team are getting used to the new system. “I’ve always thought we needed to play better as a team and this method will help us do so,” says Halappa, who made his India debut in 2001.

Doubts have been expressed on whether players on the wrong side of 30 will be able to adjust to Brasa’s ‘10 midfielders’ format since it requires constant sprints up and down the field. But the most capped active player in the world and former India skipper, Dilip Tirkey, dispels the doubts. Tirkey says that though the new style will be exhausting, it will be worth putting in the extra effort. “It will surprise our opponents as even the defenders will be able to get into attacking positions,” says the 31-year-old.

It isn’t just the players who are welcoming the Spain-imported strategy. Assistant coach Harinder Singh, who has been with the Indian team for over a decade now at various levels, is also bullish about the change. “The players are very happy with the coaching regime and I am learning a lot of things as well,” he says.

New fitness regime

Fitness will be a vital factor if Brasa’s plan has to go beyond his writing pad. Luckily for the coach, Jesus is on his side. The team trainer, also Brasa’s compatriot, goes by the name of Jesus Garcia Pallares. The consensus among those at the camp is that the training is back-breaking. Pallares gives his point of view: “I have given the team exercises to increase their aerobic endurance, power and strength so they can adapt to Brasa’s new methods quickly. They should reach their fitness peaks within two months.”

Even goalkeeping coach Romeo James is in the mood for change and innovation. He has been using golf balls to improve goalkeepers’ reflexes. “A golf ball is very small, so once a goalkeeper gets used to stopping that, it would be much easier to anticipate the hockey ball,” says James.

At the core of the several new ideas floated by Brasa and his support staff is a dream that several hockey experts have attempted to realise over the years. The idea of fusing a few finer points of modern hockey with the high-on-skill entertaining Asian style of play has been too tempting. It remains to be seen if Brasa’s “upar dekho” chants will see India holding their heads high in world hockey once again.