The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Carvalho gets to keep his job

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Carvalho gets to keep his job

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Australian Ric Charlesworth has agreed to be the technical advisor of Indian hockey. His role will involve all the hockey teams including the senior men’s team.

Joaquim Carvalho is, however, being retained as the chief coach of the men’s team, at least up to the next assignment, a four-nation tournament in Australia from April 20.

After three days of uncertainty following his arrival here from Australia on a summons from the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), Charlesworth’s appointment was finalised on Thursday at the end of another round of discussions involving IHF officials, Union Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Doubts cleared

Though there could be no confirmation whether the Australian coach had actually signed a contract that would be for an initial period of one year, sources indicated that all doubts had been cleared and an arrangement had been worked out to the satisfaction of all the “stakeholders” in the ‘Promoting Indian Hockey’ project launched by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Though it has been decided that Charlesworth would be associated with all segments of Indian hockey, there could yet be doubts about his functional role in the men’s hockey team, especially with Carvalho remaining as its Chief Coach.

For the moment at least, Charlesworth would be associated straightaway with the women’s hockey team which is scheduled to play the Olympic qualifiers at Kazan, Russia, next month. The team is currently training in Lucknow.

Committee formed

A technical advisory committee has been formed to advise the Government and the federation on all matters related to planning and programme, selection and coaching. Charlesworth will work in collaboration with this panel, advising it on various aspects including coaching policy and selection process.

The advisory panel, with the Executive Director (Teams Wing), SAI, as its member-convenor, will also have the Union Government observers and a few Olympians as its members.

The present arrangement would be reviewed sometime in June-July and, if required, corrective measures would be taken, sources said.

Consultations

The decisions were taken after consultations with the FIH Project Director for ’Promoting Indian Hockey’, Bob Davidzon, and were acceptable to Charlesworth, according to sources.

Carvalho’s retention is apparently at the behest of IHF President K.P.S. Gill.

The majority of the Executive members whom Gill consulted over two days in meetings here were in favour of accepting Carvalho’s resignation, it is learnt.

“Let’s move forward,” is the refrain in official circles to explain Carvalho’s retention despite all-round criticism and his own resolve to quit after the failure, but it is to be seen how Charlesworth will have a working relationship with him and the rest of his staff after all the acrimony.

One of the coaches had even accused Charlesworth of attempting to demoralise the players.For the fourth day in succession, the IHF functionaries remained incommunicado, suggesting that the discussions were of a secretive nature.

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