If Graham Reid’s appointment is to qualify India for Olympics, it is wrong, says Jagbir Singh
Jagbir Singh, former India player, has stated that if Hockey India has appointed Graham Reid as the head coach of the Indian team only to ensure qualification in the Olympics, it is wrong. He feels that the coach should be given some time, and the goal should be to reach the top four in Olympics.
Graham Reid, on April 8, had been appointed as the head coach of the Indian hockey team and has been due to join the team in their ongoing national camp in Bengaluru. His appointment had come after a series of speculation and silence by Hockey India, post the sacking of Harendra Singh in January.
The former Australian player will have a tough task ahead of him, as Hockey India is notorious for its frequent sacking of the coaches, evident from that fact that India has had 53 coaches in the last 39 years.
The former Australia head coach’s first major assignment would be the Hockey Series Finals in June, which acts as the qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Reid, for now, has been given a term until December 2020, and it is natural that he is tasked with the job of ensuring
"If we say Reid's target is to help us qualify for the Olympics, then we are setting the wrong target for him. It is rather to be in the top four at the Olympics. Give him time, let him work with his confidence, which he has always carried as a player and as a coach. Then expect results," said the
The apex governing body had recently appointed the relatively unknown Piyush Kumar Dubey as an assistant, who is expected to take up most of the translation duties for Reid. Jagbir, himself, has been the assistant to Barry Dancer, when he was a part of Punjab Warriors in the Hockey India League, and shared the importance of proper translation.
"Not a word was here and there in translating (Barry's instructions). It matters a lot what is being conveyed. Language matters, whether we accept it or not. Here his assistants will be very important," he explained.
Reids has an excellent resume with respect to his managerial career. He was the assistant coach to the Australian team, but took over the role of the head coach, and guided the team to number one ranking and a Champions Trophy gold. Jagbir and Reids played in the same era, and the former India player has heaped praise on the 1992 Olympic Silver medallist.
"I have seen him as a player since the '88 Olympics. One of the most hard-working guys on the pitch. Midfield is his strength, so that way we (Indian team) can benefit a lot,” said the Government appointed national observer of hockey.
The 54-year-old was keen on taking up the challenge of coaching the fifth-ranked Indian team, and Jagbir has been of the opinion that this could be a positive sign.
"The good thing is he wanted Indian hockey. There is a big difference between one who just wants
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