Too much administrative interference is hampering Indian hockey: Joaquim Carvalho

Interview with Former India coach and Olympian

Paul van Ass, the Dutch coach of the Indian men's hockey team, was sacked last month after an alleged on-field spat with Hockey India President Narinder Batra, bringing to light once again the shoddy way in which the sport is run in India. The team's high performance director, Roelant Oltmans, has been named as van Ass' replacement. Former India coach and Olympian Joaquim Carvalho talks to Dhruv Munjal about the role of foreign coaches, why we struggle to keep hold of them and how India is expected to fare at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Was Hockey India fair in sacking van Ass? Could this situation have been avoided?

The most important thing for a coach is to feel wanted. The treatment that was meted out to van Ass was not fair. I understand that there are occasions when officials want to talk to players. But there is a time and place to do that. Van Ass lost his job simply because he objected to Batra talking to the players after a match at the World League Semifinals in Antwerp last month. Batra had no right to be there and he could have spoken to the players later. The reason given for his sacking was that he was "rude" to Batra. We cannot let go of a coach simply because he was "rude" to an official.

Jose Brasa, Michael Nobbs, Terry Walsh and now Paul van Ass - four foreign coaches have been shown the door in the last five years. Why do you think we struggle to keep hold of quality coaches?

There is too much interference in the way a coach wants to function. Hockey administrators in our country know very little about the game and they are the ones who do not let coaches do their job properly. When a coach takes over, he wants to impose his stamp on the team. He wants the team to play a brand of hockey that he feels suits it best. In India, we don't allow coaches to do that.

If a coach is not performing, then the administration is well within its right to ask him to leave. But they have to let him work properly first. The lack of freedom is hampering the team's progress. Moreover, this reflects poorly on us as a hockey nation. And, this is why we are lagging behind.

We seem to be obsessed with foreign coaches. Many feel that only professionals from abroad can revive Indian hockey. Have these foreign coaches had the desired impact?

If you look at the last couple of years, performances have definitely improved. So, it's fair to say that foreign coaches have done a decent job. But no foreign coach comes with a magic wand. The road to revival is a long one. Hence, whoever comes in will have to be given adequate time.

The theory that only foreign coaches can take us forward is a myth. We have some good Indian coaches as well, who given the opportunity can do well. They do not lack in technical acumen. Jude Felix and Frederick D'Souza are prime examples.

The 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics are a little under a year away now. How unsettling are the constant changes in coaching personnel for the players?

Indian skipper Sardara Singh has come out and said that these changes are not good for the team on the field. So, the players are definitely being affected. The team had just got used to van Ass' methods when he was sacked. Now, with Oltmans taking over, the team will have to start from scratch again. There is no doubt that Oltmans is a world-class professional, but he will want the team to play in a different way. The strategies and training methods will all change. Also, Oltmans might not like a player that van Ass did. This leads to uncertainty for the players. And, with Rio just around the corner, Oltmans has very little time to set things right.

What we can expect from the Indian team at the Olympics? Is a podium finish a realistic possibility?

Reaching the semi-finals must be our first aim. Looking at how the team is playing right now, that is a possibility. A lot will depend on Oltmans now. If he gets his strategies and team selection right, then India will be in the hunt in Rio. After making the semi-finals, it's just a matter of one game. Also, the focus must immediately shift from administrative issues to improving the team's performance on the pitch. If there is no interference from the administration and selectors from here on, then we are looking at a strong finish for India at the Rio Games.