The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Blaming it on SAI

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Blaming it on SAI

Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI: After his nine months’ experience in India proved to be a bitter pill, Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth said the scenario could improve only if professional administrators were posted in decision-making positions.

Charlesworth said the Sports Authority of India’s bureaucratic control was a major hurdle in his functioning. He complained that though he was appointed for one year last December, the contract was offered only from March.

“I cannot work under these conditions. I cannot go and beg before a bureaucrat for a computer to do my work,” he said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

“I need a proper contract, the freedom to coach and employ staff, technical support and a translator as I do not know Hindi and many players are not very good with English,” he said.

Squarely blaming the SAI for his premature resignation from the post of Technical Advisor of Indian hockey, Charlesworth said: “Over the last weeks it has been clear that some do not see a role for me and, clearly, as long as SAI controls the resources for the sport without any flexibility it would be difficult for me or any international coach to operate,” he said in a statement.

Money owed

Charlesworth, who is leaving for Australia on Wednesday, claimed that a part of his dues were yet to be cleared but the SAI was not responding to his communications.

“Now I am trying to sort it out through the Indian Olympic Association,” he said.

The Aussie recommended a proper programme to guide India to the top six in world hockey. “Whatever you do it has to be compatible with the local system. Indian hockey cannot run on anecdotes, there has to be some reality,” he said. “Some continuity is needed, the system needed to be structured,” he added. “There was resistance to me as there was to Greg Chappell. The change has to come from within.”

Charlesworth, however, did not rule out coming back to India in future. “I love India, It is a country of incredible contrasts. I don’t know what would happen in future. If things change, I may come back.”

On whether he would take up the job of coaching the Australian men’s team, he said the process of selecting the coach would start after the Olympics and he stood a good chance.

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