Mon 13 Dec, 2004
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India: Important that we don't finish last, says Rach  x4
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December 5, 2004
The Hindu, India
> Page Views 124
After two defeats in as many matches, India's main target now is not to finish last in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament, coach Gerhard Rach, said today.
India, who were given a drubbing by Spain yesterday, showed remarkable improvement in their game today before losing 4-5 to Holland at the National Stadium here.
"It was a close match which we lost. But the most important thing for us is not to finish last in the Champions Trophy. Our main target is to prepare the team for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing," Rach told reporters after the match.
Rach said his team played much better than yesterday but ended up second best because of some "silly mistakes".
He also questioned the quality of umpiring in the match.
"We played much better today, but made some silly mistakes. The umpiring decisions also went in favour of Holland and it helped them.
"Our team has young players. They will improve as they gain experience which counts in such a big tournament," the chief coach said.
The Dutch team may have kept their slate clean with a 100 per cent win record so far, but coach Terry Walsh, said he was worried by the number of goals his team conceded in the last two matches.
"We conceded two against New Zealand yesterday and four more today. Six goals in two matches is a worrying factor. We have to do something about it. But I am happy about the six points we have got so far," said Walsh.
The Dutch coach conceded that his team had come under some pressure after India took the lead in the early part of the match.
"We started poorly and conceded an early goal. But the boys did well to bounce back and take good control by the end of first half.
"In the next match, we have to work on our basic skills and do away with our receiving errors."
Holland captain Jeroen Delmee, said the way India bounced back into the match, he could see their desperation to win it.
"It was sensational match and India fought back really well. With a lead of 4-2, we thought we had closed the game at the half time, but they played really well to come back. India really wanted to do well," Delmee said.
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Comments on this article
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COOL
12-06-2004 5:42 pm
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A COACH WITHOUT FLAWS?
Rach is a pompous airbag, concieted and ignorant. When things go wrong he blames the players. If rarely, things go right, then he garners the accolades. When India lost to Spain he got Tirkey to do the press conference. When India played better against the Dutch, he held fort!
He has repeatedly denounced his(?) team for "silly mistakes". What do we need a coach for if he cannot iron out these "silly mistakes"? Just to demoralize and break up a team?
I watched the MCT India-Spain match and was shocked! I've played and watched hockey at all levels, but this had to be the absolute pits.
Admittedly, India was not doing well before Rach's arrival. But, after his coaching the team has really deteriorated to new depths of despair. Rach has single handledly destroyed what limited attacking flair existed in the team. He has ensured that the team lacks imagination, inspiration and spirit. He is trying to mould a team that heavily relies on defense and is as unattractive as a third grade european club team!
Indians, because of their smaller strature cannot play defense based hockey. Their forte is attack and that has been supressed by Rach.
Even though Spain won, they played mediocre hockey and still managed to thrash India 4-0! This hurts.
Rach has also been instrumental in keeping the deserving out of the team. I also watched the recent matches at Shivaji Stadium. Deepak Thakur, Dhanraj and Baljit Dhillon were brilliant. Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot and Brojan Singh were miles ahead of the present Indian forward line. This lot has to be the best in the world today, the Olympics nothwithstanding.
Rach is a conniving, egotistical amd vindictive individual. He is insecure, lacks professionalism and is not a coach. He has denied some of the above deserving a place in the team because they would have asked for his ouster. The present lot of rookies would not dare voice thier true opinion.
Mr. Gill, play true to form and sack Rach too. You've sacked innumerable coaches who were miles ahead than this pathetic excuse of a coach. By sacking him you'll be doing Indian hockey a great favor.
MCT was a great time to have put in our best team. We need to re-learn the winning habit. But under the guise of experimentation we have for some years now ruined Indian hockey. Set it back many years.
If we leave behind the best who are in their early twenties, we deserve to loose.
I predict darker days for Indian hockey, unless the Sports Ministry intervenes, takes charge. Many heads need to roll. Start with Rach.
And bring back the deserving to the team.
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GARCHA
12-06-2004 8:43 pm
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TO COOL
ALL INDIAN FANS AGREE WITH YOU.COOL U WROTE VERY WELL AND I WANT U TO SEND THIS ARTICLE TO SOME PUNJABI WEEKLY PAPERS PUBLISHED IN CANADA AND CALIFORNIA.LOT OF HOCKEY LOVERS ARE NOT INTOUCH WITH INTERNET. I WANT THEM TO READ THIS ARTICLE. GOD BLESS U AND INDIAN HOCKEY.
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Diganta
12-06-2004 11:34 pm
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Why a German
I cannot understand why a German is the coach of India, it should have been a Dutch or an Australian, who really has some skills to show on the fields. The Germans always plays body game, and prefers close man-to-man marking. They doesn't like the open hockey which Indians prefer. It's true that India has improved a lot in converting penalty corners of late, but to earn a penalty corner has become tougher, there seems to be no sting in Indian attack. So "SACK RACH AND BRING ..."
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Hockey Fan
12-07-2004 4:58 am
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Cool
You wrote the truth about Indian Hockey, As an Indian I support Pakistanis at least they play a lot better than our lot of rookies.
All Indian hockey players wherever you are write to your Indian consulate showing your displeasure about your National sport and asking for the sacking of Gill, Jyoti and Rach and Mob. Do ask for the letter to be forwarded to Indian Newspapers and request areply from sports Ministry.
All Indians in India write to your LOCAL papers asking for the sacking of Gill, Jyoti, Rach and Mob and maybe this will wake up the sports Ministry.
All Indians who are in favour of these actions please post a Note on this pen and maybe planetfieldhockey.com can forward all these to Sports Ministry as well but Kindly do not add any personal abuse.
GOD SAVE INDIAN HOCKEY
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