As Spaniard Jose Brasa gets ready to take over as the Indian hockey coach after the Asia Cup in Malaysia, Uthra Ganesan analyses his strengths and lists the challenges he will face over the next few months

The foreign hand has somehow never worked in Indian hockey. The first experiment in bringing in outside expertise in the national sport was a disaster from the beginning, when an unknown German with a controversial past by the name of Gerhard Rach was appointed the chief coach 15 days before the Athens Olympics. His tenure lasted six months, was ridden with problems, and ended in a farce.

He was followed by a man who seemed his complete opposite — Australian legend Ric Charlesworth as a technical consultant. Charlesworth came after pressure from the International Hockey Federation (FIH), but it was made clear that he wasn’t welcome in India. He wasn’t given a free hand and beat a hasty retreat, lambasting the Indian officials and the officialdom for their short-sightedness and for allegedly short-changing him.

With Spaniard Jose Brasa being appointed the chief coach last week — he will officially take charge after the upcoming Asia Cup in Malaysia — Indian hockey will embark on yet another experiment with a foreigner at the helm. Whether it succeeds or not is difficult to predict but, going by Indian hockey’s record, there will be some unique challenges that we must take note of.

CHALLENGES

1. India’s poor record

The way Indian hockey has slipped over the last two decades, accepting the job in the first place is a tough call for any foreigner. Outside of cricket, the post of the hockey coach is the most demanding and scrutinised job in Indian sport. The team’s poor performance in recent years may have led to the lack of media attention, but the constant drama off the field ensures that the public glare is always on the man at the helm.

... contd.