Indian players always play under extra pressure - Jose Brasa, former Indian hockey coach

Q. Looking back at your coaching stint in India – you took charge in 2009 and stayed till the end of 2010 – were you surprised that your contract was not renewed despite the fact that India won a bronze at the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou beating the four-time champions Korea in the 3rd place play-off tie.

I knew that it was difficult to see Hockey India and SAI renew my contract as I had criticized them on many occasions – I had also flayed their system of treating the players as well as the coach. So it did not came as a surprise when they did not renew my contract. I was hopeful that the good results in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games could tilt the scales in my favour, but unfortunately in India it does not happen that way.

Q. A lot of youngsters were tried out during Nobbs’ stint as India coach. The likes of Shivendra Singh and Tushar Khandker are considered unwelcome to the national team. Even someone like Gurbaj Singh is out of the side since the 2012 Olympics. Do you think employing the ‘all young mantra’ is the right strategy?

I do not think that overlooking these players was the right strategy. It was not a sports decision, more a political one. As far as I know, the axing of three players was a joint decision of Hockey India and Nobbs for disciplinary reasons. And I believe Sarvanjit Singh was also meted the same treatment.

These disciplinary reasons are the kind of interferences that should not happen, something that does not happen in other countries. Both SAI and Hockey India put extra pressure on players and create a bad atmosphere where players cannot perform. During my time as India coach Hockey India wielded the axe on some players like Arjun Halappa, Prabhjot Singh, Adrian D`Souza against my wishes due to disciplinary reasons.

Q. Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh had a poor tournament in the Hockey World League Round 3 event in Rotterdam. Do you think his international career is over?

I do not think that Sandeep Singh is finished. We do not know the reasons or reasons of his performance. Maybe his poor performance in Rotterdam was due to lack of confidence, or other reasons which can be solved. It is an unquestionable fact is that Sandeep Singh is the world’s best drag-flicker.

Q. How do you assess Sardar Singh’s captaincy?

I believe Sardar is now the best captain India can have. He is an outstanding player, one of the best players in the world if not the best just now. He is a very committed player, with a positive attitude and leads by example.

Q. As coach of the Indian team, it is said that you wanted Prabhjot Singh as the captain and it was alleged that you cold-shouldered captain Rajpal Singh – both of whom are out of the team.

That captaincy incident happened just one week before the 2010 Delhi World Cup. It was not just me who wanted Prabhjot as captain, the whole team decided, voted and wanted him as captain. All players and staff nominated Prabhjot as captain before Hockey India came from outside the team like a bull in a china shop, and named Rajpal as captain. The players tried to convince Hockey India but failed to prevent them from taking that dictatorial decision.

Hockey India broke the internal cohesion of the team. As the team’s coach I knew the importance of our internal strength, we had been working on it for months, and Hockey India’s a stupid decision destroyed our months of hard work in seconds, and destroyed too, the hope of achieving an outstanding result.

Q. Who are the players you think have really improved during your stint as India coach?

Indian players are skillful in general and it is difficult to improve them in abilities. You should ask this question to the players who donned the national colours under me, it is for them to say if they like me as coach of the Indian team or not, and whether they have learned something important from me.

Many players were very happy having me as coach. Sardar Singh, Sandeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh,Vikram Pillay, DhananjayMahadik, Tushar Khandekar, Adrian D`Souza, Shivendra Singh, Sarvanjit Singh,Gurbaj Singh, Rajpal Singh, Arjun Halappa, VS Vinaya, PR Sreejesh, Dharamvir Singh, Danish Mujtaba, SV Sunil, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Ravi Singh, Ravipal Singh, VR Raghunath ….. I believe the most of them. (some more are missed)

Q. Are you seeing any improvement in our penalty corner conversations after you left as India coach?

Now with V Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh India have more number of drag-flickers, which means more variations. Anyway India’s short corner conversions hasn’t been that great in top competitions over the last few years. But for me the best penalty corner solution in India was Sandeep Singh – my job was to get him to have the same performance he used to have during trainings.

Q. The fitness of the Indian team has really improved over the years. A big plus for the team.

I agree that the physical fitness of the Indian team has improved, and it has worked well for the team, but it is necessary to keep improving as the Indians are still lagging behind the physical fitness of Australians or Europeans.

Q. Would consider coaching India again if you are offered that job again?

Yes, of course. The experience of coaching such a talent bunch was wonderful, and I would like to continue my friendship with the players. But I will like to have a different contract having more control of the situation to avoid unwanted interferences that can be detrimental to the team.

I believe the Indian players like me as coach, but I’m not sure whether SAI or Hockey India officials are keen to have him in the coach seat. If Hockey India calls me I will go immediately.