Under new coach, Indian hockey seems set on right path
The loss against Argentina in the semi-finals was disappointing but every Indian walked out of the stadium head held high.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Indian hockey has found a new home in Bhubaneshwar. As howling winds and heavy rain drenched the turf and there was a chill in the air, players and fans players braved the elements.
The 0-1 end result against Argentina in the semi-finals of the FIH hockey world league on Friday was disappointing but every Indian walked out of the stadium head held high.
The format of the tournament has been questioned as to how a side which loses matches in the league phase still makes it to the quarterfinals. It is something quite similar to cricket’s Champions Trophy and makes the sport exciting.
With the international hockey federation (FIH) president Narinder Bara telling the media on Saturday that the format is here to stay, critics who questioned India’s path have been answered.
First things first. For a sport which does not have the same following as cricket, it’s important the team is winning matches. Hockey at home is in a perpetual state of flux. There is nothing constant and change of coaches has become a habit. Three months ago when Roelant Oltmans made way for Sjoerd Marijne, many predicted doomsday for Indian hockey. It has been quite the opposite.
Marijne, who was handling the women’s team before this, has accepted the challenge and built on the platform to make men’s hockey stronger. Winning the Asia Cup was a great feeling in Bangladesh, yet Marijne had to prove his own credentials along with that of the Indian team. It’s apparent the Dutchman believes in an aggressive approach to the game which is why the Indian team now plays European sides with more belief.
If one were to compare the coaching methods of Oltmans and Marijne, they are as different as cheese and chalk. Oltmans advocated more ball possession and never let the team play flat out in training. That hampered the team in matches.
Today, hockey is played at such a fast pace, there is no scope for holding on to the ball. The strategy is not to hold on to the ball. Keep passing and the faster the release of ball from one player to another, the better. For those who have seen Indian hockey play in pyramid formation (5-3-2-1), the hockey played today is drastically different.
It would not be a bad idea for coaches at grassroots level and junior levels in India to see how coaching methods can be changed. Where the Indians have worked most hard is in terms of fitness and speed. Skills are important but how fast a player can produce that explosive burst and sustain energy levels is crucial too.
Consistency is one area where India are still not in top bracket. That should hopefully come over a period of time. Feedback from the team is that the players are comfortable with new coach Marijne and he, in turn, hears them out. This buddy kind of relationship is good as players cannot be training in isolation or be unaware of what the coach expects from them. This was one complaint which players and Hockey India had against Oltmans.
The Indian team is not a collection of individual superstars. In fact, someone like former India captain Sardar Singh, who was not selected for this tournament, will be working on certain fundamentals as he continues to train with the reserves in Benglauru. The complaint against Sardar is lack of speed and holding on to the ball for too long. That is just not permissible in current plans adopted by coach Marijne and the think-tank.
To be sure, Bhubaneshwar needs to be complimented for making the Indian team feel at home. The crowd support has been fantastic and despite inclement weather, they braved it. For the record, when Bhubaneshwar hosted the Asian athletics meet in July it was hot and humid. Yet, fans turned up.
If there is one area which can be zeroed in as essential, the Indian team has to work very hard on consistency. They played well against Australia, a side which is now in the final. Lack of consistency and the inability to maintain the same aggressive tempo in subsequent matches was not good viewing. But then, the showing against Belgium was handsome.
With youngsters being groomed and new goalkeepers soaking in the pressure, someone like Akash Chikte now knows how to face the pressure. This used to be PR Sreejesh’s forte as the star goalkeeper is in the last phase of rehab post knee surgery. On Saturday, India will be playing the bronze medal match. If the team management is to be believed, should the team win bronze, each player and head coach will get Rs10 lakh each from the Odisha state government. The team support staff has been promised Rs5 lakh each!
None can grudge rewards for the Indian hockey team as most of them come from average backgrounds. People were sarcastic in their comments when they said the Indian hockey team plays in such big-ticket events only because Hockey India is the host. To finish in the top four of a big FIH event is proof Indian hockey is looking up.
The next year is even more important with important assignments such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the World Cup on the calendar.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)