How much of a challenge is it to be back as a coach in India after a long timeIJ
Well, coaching is universal and in that sense it hardly matters. But, any job comes across as a challenge and it’s a new challenge for me. It feels nice to be in India as a coach of the Delhi Waveriders.
Are you happy with the composition of the teamIJ
Yes, the team has a completely new staff and there are some new players whom we bought during the auctions keeping in mind the absentees and pull-outs. Also, some players were injured and we had to replace them later on. Hockey is a team game so every player has to complement each other to make the side successful. We have to utilise the resources smartly. We have good youngsters and experienced players in the team.
Rajpal Singh and Arjun Halappa are veterans but they are not in the national team and haven’t played much of late. Is this a concern for youIJ
I know they have not played much but they are experienced players. They are with us because of injuries to couple of youngsters and we have to manage them in a manner that they fit into the team.
What is the difference in coaching a national team and a team like Delhi WaveridersIJ
The difference begins from the limited period of time that was offered to prepare a team in HIl. Delhi’s whole squad gathered on 21st and the match started on 25th because most of the members were coming from the Hockey World league Final. For this year’s HIl, we have prepared well and it is more of just getting the basics right with an eye on the tournament.
What are the goals you have set for the teamIJ
My goal is to prepare the team for one match at a time and hope for the best.
last year, Delhi team had finished runners-up. Is there any pressure on the team to maintain consistencyIJ
last year was last year. This is a new beginning and as I said we have to move step by step and not worry about other things. Every team has the pressure to perform. It’s all performance driven. If you don’t perform you lose and if you perform you win, as simple as it is. If you look at the recently-concluded World league Final, both the finalists lost very badly in their first matches. Holland lost 2-5 to Argentina but they eventually won the tournament. So, it’s a question of what you do on the day is what matters.
This edition will also have one more team in Kalinga lancers. So, what are the other important things that need to be taken care offIJ
Extra team means that we have to travel more although another team is good for the competition. Teams will play a lot of matches in short periods. Hence, players have to be careful to stay injury-free and for us it’s crucial that we use them smartly. We will have to rest them and also maintain the standard. It’s where the substitutes come into play. It’s extremely important that players remain fresh throughout the campaign.