It’s almost the end of the year. People all over the world are in a holiday mood and looking forward to the happy season. They are rejoicing about all the good that happended in the past year and are harbouring hope for the coming year. Hope is what the world turns on.
But it seems it’s curtains for Indian hockey. Why am I not surprised? I’m dejected and anxious for the way the state of Indian hockey has slid from a happily rising graph to a fast dropping bear-market type curve. Definitely not surprised. I’ve seen several such lurches and even falls of Indian hockey in the past 2 or 3 decades to be astonished. The finality is; not surprised and definitely not indifferent. Indignant and furious, yes.
The year began well enough. Hockey enthusiasts all over the world anxiously awaited several mega hockey events – the WC, CT,CWGs, Asiad. Indian hockey showed much promise, notwithstanding the minor hiccups along the way.
It was too good to be true. And sure enough the inept, lethargic and hybernating Hockey India insomnolently came awake to de-rail the entire process of achievement and hope. Petty politics and fragile egos decided not to renew Brasa’s term as coach. The sheer audacity and incompetence of HI was fully realised when we fans learnt that not only the will the coach’s contract not be renewed, but the jokers had not even begun to choose his successor! That, is what is a true SNAFU. A shining example of gross neglect and rank poor planning of colossal proportions. If these jokers were answerable, like all others are for their jobs, they would be canned forthwith. No questions asked.
However, there is a silver lining. Some semblance of hope. And that is Pargat Singh. He has reprotedly done wonders with the Punjab sports board. Is considered a no-nonsense type and is hopefully as impassioned about hockey as an adminsitrator as he was as a player. If he were to make the right decision and choose a coach on the basis of experience and ability, then the thread of hope can be woven into the fabric of success for Indian hockey. The other sliver of hope is the ousting of the “old guard” and inducting of new and hopefully dedicated hockey lovers as the fresh team of administrators and selectors.
The burning question is Who? Who will be the coach and guide the team to the OGs 2012. Definitely not the Dhanraj’s, the Lobo’s, the Harinder Singh’s and the other “fantastic” players who, may have mesmerized with the stick, but are no Dronacharya’s. No by a long shot.
If Indian hockey is to qualify for the next OGs, then the person holding the reigns – the coach (I presume), should be amongst the best, a planner, a visionary and be allowed to work his magic with the team without the proverbial damocles sword hanging over his head. He should be fully answerable for the fortunes of Indian hockey.
Does anyone fit this bill?
Lastly, someone in the know has to explain to a lot of people, me especially, why is the Indian Hockey Federation still around? And getting press exposure. I thought Hockey India was the only hockey governing body since the loss of accreditation of the IHF. Strange bedfellows; HI & IHF. And definitely too many cooks.
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