>>TOI EXCLUSIVE JOSE BRASA INTERVIEW

I'VE BEEN TREATED LIKE A SLAVE: BRASA

India's Hockey Coach Bares All, Says SAI & HI Cheated Him

Satya Siddharth Rath | TNN

Mumbai: Jose Brasa isn't angry. He's not bitter either. Hurt? Pained? Humiliated? No, he won't say it. But you can feel it from the expression of anguish on his face.

A positive attitude has been a big virtue of the Spaniard, who took over as chief coach of the men's hockey team in May last year. Now, perhaps the first time ever, one can feel that slight hint of negativity in his thoughts. "I have lost. Your system has won. I tried my best to change it. I pleaded, I cried, I did everything. But it won't budge,'' he says.

He has reasons to get angry, feel bitter, but he isn't. "Who do I blame, but myself ? I trusted them, I thought they were really serious for the revival of Indian hockey, but I was mistaken. If not for the players, I would have left long back. There's so much talent here, it's like coaching a bunch of eager kids,'' the 58-year-old adds.

What, however, has hurt him most is the way he's been treated, both by Hockey India and SAI.

"I was promised a lot of things. They vowed to provide accommodation for my family and schooling for my kids. But they went back on their words. I called them, they didn't pick up the phone. I wrote to them, but never got a reply. They cheated me. Barring 30 days of leave in a year, I don't even have Saturdays and Sundays off ! They have treated me like a slave.''

Despite being the chief coach, he still has no say in team selection. "Only once during the start of my tenure,'' he recalls, "but never after that. They want me to conquer the world, but have tied my hands! I see new faces at every camp, but also find some good players missing. I protest, but get no answer.''

No top hockey-playing country in the world have got selectors to pick the national team. Barring India and, perhaps, Pakistan. "It's the coach who picks the team. World over, they have done away with selectors. The system has been abolished almost 50 years ago. But here, the tradition continues. We train the players, we know who's good and would suit the team's requirements, but when the team is picked, the coach has no say! If we can't change, we shouldn't expect a change either.'' The anguish is apparent now.

Not just the players, Brasa even has no say in picking his assistants. "I have no complaints against the other coaches, they are all doing a good job, but shouldn't I even be asked who I want? Shouldn't my assistants be chosen by me? I wanted (former India captain) Ramandeep (Singh Grewal) for the Commonwealth Games camp, but have got no reply on his whereabouts as yet.''

He is, however, all praise for the players. "They are the only positive things. The talent here is enormous, it needs to be properly groomed. That's why I came here, it's both a joy and challenge to work with these boys. I didn't come here for money. At the World Cup, I was perhaps the worst-paid of all coaches. I tried my best to bring about some change, but couldn't break your system. It's rock solid!'' One can't miss the pun.

Brasa's contract runs till the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Would he accept, if given an extension? "Under the present terms and conditions, no. And I don't expect things to change either. But there will be enough happy memories. The players will always remain close to my heart. I will also never forget the warmth I received from the Indian people.''

STIFLED:India's hockey coach Jose Brasa feels let down at the lack of support from the powers that be

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