The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : IHF makes a worthy move

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Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
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IHF makes a worthy move

S. Thyagarajan

Charlesworth is likely to fine-tune coaching
He has always expressed his yearning to train Indians

Chennai: That Indian hockey is all set to avail itself of the expertise and experience of a stalwart like Ric Charlesworth is happy tidings indeed.

What perhaps might cause a speck of worry is the timing of the decision to induct the Aussie legend as the technical advisor when the team, at least the men, is surging into the upcurve with a string of spectacular performances in the Asia Cup, which India retained.

The Indian Hockey Federation’s (IHF) perspective in conceding to the international federation’s (FIH) initiative to tone up and upgrade the quality of the eight-time Olympic champion is to enhance the profile of the sport as much as to give a fresh impetus to training at all layers in the men’s and women’s sections.

Everything falls into the programme initiated by FIH’s project to help India regain its pristine glory of hockey and get an honourable place in the ratings.

Charlesworth thrilled

If anyone who is to be thrilled with the development it should be none other than Charlesworth himself. Forget his credentials as an outstanding icon of Aussie hockey in the late 70s and 80s. What must be stressed is Charlesworth’s admiration of Indian hockey.

In more than one interview, he has expressed his yearning to train Indians, who, he always held, have a natural flair for the sport.

It is gathered that the major part of the funding for the scheme will come from the FIH as part of the IOC Solidarity, with a matching grant from the Sports Authority of India.

At the moment, everything is in a fluid state, with a lot of paperwork remaining.

If everything is settled, Charlesworth should be on his assignment from next month. The IHF is in the process of preparing a detailed chart for his work which should cover the national teams, both men and women, at all levels, including training at the grass-root level.

Charlesworth is likely to fine-tune coaching rather than taking over the teams as such.

The Aussie’s inputs will be only to enhance the benefits already enjoyed by the players from the present set of coaches. What IHF hopes is to engage as many coaches as possible in frequent interactions with Charlesworth both on and off the field.

Tough task

Quite predictably, the task is not as easy as is being made out. The possibility of all coaches not converging on some set ideas exists, and how well everyone will steer clear of such a situation is to be watched carefully. It must be driven into everyone that here is a hockey personality whose credentials as coach are unmatched in contemporary hockey.

He was part of the Aussie team that won the gold at the World Cup in Wellesden in 1986 and steered the national women’s team to more than one Olympic gold medal.

What gives Charlesworth an insight into Indian hockey is not merely the matches he played against our national teams but his bird’s eye view of the teams in all major tournaments as commentator, or, simply as a spectator who loves to soak himself in a hockey ambience in major tournaments. His link with hockey continues long after his playing days.

Clear picture

Where Charlesworth will be based is engaging the attention of the administration now.

He may either be at Bangalore, where he will have quick access to the SAI, the venue of all camps, or Hyderabad, which boasts of excellent infrastructure with flood lighting.

The IHF has been planning to have an academy at Hyderabad, but a lot of spade work remains to be completed.

A clear picture will emerge by the first week of November when the contract be signed and all points settled among the coach, IHF and FIH.

Frankly, the nomination of Charlesworth is a Hobson’s choice for the IHF as part of the reforms that the FIH had initiated since the last World Cup at Monchengladbach.

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