“We are searching for answers in the wrong place. The answer for success in Indian hockey does not lie with the national team, it lies with the junior level," Viren Rasquinha, former India captain
BY CHARLES D' SOUZA.
MARGAO
India as a nation needs to develop a pool of next generation top quality home grown coaches if it aims to make its way to the top, stated CEO of Olympic Gold Quest and former Indian captain Viren Rasquinha.
Arjuna awardee Viren, who led the contingent in the 2004 Olympics, said bringing foreign coaches to India alone cannot yield results.
“We are searching for answers in the wrong place. The answer for success inr Indian hockey does not lie with the national team, it lies with the domestic level and junior level. If a talented 15-year-old is taught the wrong thing by the time he becomes 20 or 21 and comes to the national team he has developed bad habits (wrong techinques)," explained the former captain,adding: "And blaming foreign coaches for lack of success is not the right thing."
"If you hire Ric Charlesworth or any top coach and pay him US$20,000 per month what results will he be able to churn out if the players he is dealing with is not quality material. How can coaches be blamed if the results are not as per expectation," queried Viren, adding: "I do not blame the foreign coaches. It is tough on foreign coaches under such a scenario.”
Hockey India has been doing a 'great job', said Viren commending the modern facilities which the players get to utilize.
“The quality of coaching, standard of junior and domestic hockey- these are areas of improvement,” he said.
“We need to put in a lot of investment in developing coaches taking into consideration India as a whole. I think the standard of coaching across all sports at the domestic level and at the junior level has to improve significantly," the hockey star added.
Viren pointed out that several national sports federations have opted to go rope in foreign coaches for the national team as they have 'no choice'.
“Football, hockey, cricket and basketball, almost every sport you see, we are relying on foreign coaches. Right now we have no choice, but there has to come a stage where we have to develop next generation of top quality Indian coaches that is something which India as a nation is looking forward to develop, the most talented coaches.”
“As I travel, the length and breath of the country I am horrified to see talented 15-year-old being taught the same thing which I was taught as a 15-year old. The game has improved by leaps and bounds but we continue to train with outdated methods,” he added.
