Three—time Olympian Mukesh Kumar, sacked by Hockey India from the position of junior national coach feels “insulted and humiliated”, and feels the Narinder Batra—led organisation is no different from the Indian Hockey Federation.
“I don’t know the reason behind this decision. I have spent just 21 days with the team and we did well in Johor Bahru Cup. I feel humiliated,” Mukesh told PTI Bhasha from Hyderabad.
“Hockey India is also working like the KPS Gill-led IHF. This is the second leg of my career and I want to make a mark as a coach, but HI is not supportive,” said Mukesh, who has represented India in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympics.
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Mukesh was hurt that HI didn’t inform him that Baljit Singh Saini has been appointed the junior India coach and will be in charge of the national camp starting in Bangalore from March 15.
“Hockey India did not even inform me about this. During the Olympic qualifiers in Delhi, HI general secretary Narinder Batra suggested to me that it would be better if I work with the senior team as Micheal Nobbs’ understudy, but I refused.
And when I enquired about the junior team’s camp, they said that I have been removed,” said the veteran, who has 307 played international matches.
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Mukesh was made the junior national coach after Harendra Singh left the job.
Mukesh is also upset with Baljit’s appointment as the latter is junior to him.
“A coach’s job is a technical one, and I have been selected through proper process by HI’s development committee headed by Pargat Singh. I would have no issues if any foreign coach or senior person had replaced me,” he said.
The former midfielder, who has scored eight goals in three editions of Olympic Games, said that the agreement with HI was for a long—term contract.
“I had told HI before my appointment that I wanted a tenure till 2013, and they agreed. I wanted to share my experience with the junior players and for that I needed time.
I wanted to strengthen their basics,” he concluded.