Just months into his job as chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, Michael Nobbs is delighted with the title triumph in the Asian Champions Trophy but cautioned that India has a long way to go before becoming competitive against the top teams.
The Australian guided the players to glory in his first assignment but believes the team is still a work in progress.
“I don’t think that we are ready yet to take on the stronger teams. We have just started and have a long way to go,” Nobbs said on Tuesday after the squad’s return from Ordos, China.
The success at the Asian Champions Trophy has ignited hopes of securing a spot in the London Olympics, but the coach sounded a cautionary note.
“After this victory, the goal of Olympic qualification seems realistic. But it will be very difficult.
“We have been preparing for six months while other teams have been doing so for six years.
We are performing at just 40 per cent of our ability now. There are fitness and strength issues as well.
“(Exercise physiologist) David John has been working hard with the boys, who love him. But we are still about nine months from reaching our peak. We are babies and still learning.” But the performance of the young side has given Nobbs hope that the team is on the right track.
“The enthusiasm of the boys was the key to our success. They wanted to play hockey for their country and gave everything they had,” the Aussie said.
“Six of the players had no international experience while two seniors walked out of the national camps just days before the departure. But that gave opportunities to a couple of youngsters.” Rupinder Pal Singh and Yuvraj Walmiki came in for special praise from Nobbs.
“Rupinder played a lot in the first four matches and gave a good performance. But he ran out of petrol thereafter and had to be used sparingly in the final two matches against Pakistan.
“Yuvraj will go a long way if he keeps his feet on the ground and keeps improving. He lends the spark of creativity to the team and can do the unexpected,” the coach felt.
Encouraged by the talent he has seen, Nobbs will now have a look at the juniors, who are being prepared for the 2013 Junior World Cup.
“The players will go back to the national camp in Bangalore, while I will go to Jalandhar for the junior national trials. I am sure there will be a few gems there.” The Asian Champions Trophy triumph is silver lining in the troubled times the national game is facing.
The International Hockey Federation has withdrawn the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy, which was scheduled to be held in the Capital, and Nobbs said it would not help the team’s preparation for the Olympic qualifiers in February.
“It will hinder our preparations but we will wait and see how we do in the Champions Challenge in South Africa. It’s a rocky road ahead but my goal is to see the team on the podium at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.” The Indian team is also scheduled to go to Australia for two tournaments and will look to peak during the Olympic qualifiers, scheduled to be held on home turf.
Sreejesh unperturbed by rule change
Goalkeeper PS Sreejesh was the hero of India’s title triumph at the Asian Champions Trophy as he made two crucial saves in the tie- breaker in the final against Pakistan.
It would have been a new experience for him as the traditional system of penalty strokes has been replaced by the one- on- one contest between the goalkeeper and attacker from the 23- yard line.
Far from being uncomfortable with the rule change, Sreejesh is enjoying it. ” I find the new rule easier. Other goalkeepers may think differently but I believe the new system gives me a better chance to make a save,” he told M AIL T ODAY . In the tie- breaker, the custodian has to make split- second decisions about whether to hold his ground or charge towards the attacker.
“It all depends on the situation and one has to judge on the basis of the particular player who is trying to score,” Sreejesh said.
At Ordos, the team management played Sreejesh and fellow goalkeeper Bharat Chetri in alternate matches. There is a healthy rivalry between them and they help each other out.
“Before the tie- breaker in the final, Bharat told me to just watch the ball,” Sreejesh said.
He also lauded former international AB Subbaiah and exgoalkeeping coach Romeo James for his improvement.
source: http://www.IndiaToday.intoday.in / by Tushar Bhaduri / New Delhi, September 14th, 2011
