Pune: Forced into a damage control exercise, Hockey India President A K Mattoo today met disgruntled players and chief coach Jose Brasa in his bid to broker peace between the warring parties.
Mattoo also overruled Brasa's recent announcement that
Rajpal Singh would replace Sandeep Singh as the new captain of
the side.
Mattoo reached here this morning and held series of
marathon meetings with the players, Brasa as well as the
support staff following reports that some senior members of
the side, including former captain Sandeep Singh, were unhappy
with the Spanish coach's style of functioning and had shot off
a letter to Hockey India in this regard.
Mattoo gave ample hint of his disliking for Brasa's often
complaint about certain things and his habit of taking
decisions without keeping in loop national coach Harendra
Singh or assistant coaches Clarence Lobo and Romeo James.
"I think the coach should stop complaining. He should
also give positives. I have also told Brasa that there should
be a lot of interchange and exchange of ideas with the support
staff in decision making. Indian coaches should also be a part
of what is being done," Mattoo told reporters here.
The HI chief also criticised Brasa for naming Rajpal
Singh captain for next month's Champions Challenge tournament
in Argentina, saying it was the federation's prerogative.
"It is not right. It is only the media which is naming
Rajpal as the captain. We have not yet announced him as the
captain," Mattoo said.
He also said that though Brasa has ruled Sandeep out of
the Champions Challenge due to back injury, the selectors
would review his fitness before taking a call on the matter.
"I had a discussion with Sandeep today. In the next few
days we will assess his injury and then decide whether he will
be able to play in Argentina or not," Mattoo said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 21:54