Brasa, Batra in selection spat

Aug 27, 2010 |

Correspondent

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hockey mess

New Delhi, Aug. 27: The controversy over team selection in Indian hockey took an ugly turn on Friday with chief coach Jose Brasa blaming the authorities for “constantly interfering,” leading to poor results.

Hockey India, in turn, lashed out at Brasa, saying the Spaniard was trying to paint himself as a martyr to hide his shortcomings.

“Brasa knows his contract won’t be renewed after the Asian Games. He has failed to deliver, and hence this drama. Nothing is exceptional about him,” said HI secretary Narinder Batra.

Brasa, it is learnt, has been pressing for the inclusion of striker Prabhjot Singh for the Commonwealth Games, leading to the fallout.

In several e-mails to the Sports Authority of India and Hockey India, Brasa had asked for Prabhjot’s inclusion in the CWG squad, but to no avail.

“I would like to let you know that I want Mr Prabhjot Singh to be called to join the camp at Balewadi, as soon as possible. I kindly ask you do the needful to get Prabhjot Singh back in the camp,” Brasa wrote to Batra on August 20.

He followed it up with another letter, mentioning that the entire coaching staff was in favour of retaining Prabhjot.

This is not the first time that the Spaniard has talked about the “bad treatment” meted out to him. In an interview to this paper two months ago, Brasa had blamed the national selectors of walking out on him during a team selection meeting when he voiced his concern over the players selected for the Europe tour.

"The European teams will be one of the biggest test and we need to field our best XI. Players like Adrian

D’Souza, Arjun Halappa, V.S. Vinaya and Vikram Pillay are sitting at home, and I do not understand it,"

Brasa had said then.
"Sadly, the selectors did not want to hear any arguments."
It is clear that the 58-year old has not enjoyed a free hand since his appointment in June last year. While
coaches world over pick and chose their preliminary and final squads, Brasa has been a mere puppet in
Hockey India’s hands.
The players have supported Brasa, saying the Spaniard was better than the other coaches in the country.
Said a member of the national team, "Brasa may not be the best when compared to the top European
coaches, but he is way better than each and every coach that we have in this country. He has at least taught
us something, unlike the previous coaches."

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