Thursday, July 24, 2008

Foreigner v Indian

Change, a 6 letter word but the most difficult word when it comes to implementation.

This is what today's Indian Hockey demands. An attitude change, a perspective change, an approach change and finally a wholistic change.

Let's accept the fact. We all live in a democratic country.

On one side, you have "For a foreigner group". The Hockey intelligensia in this group vehemently demanded that Ric Charlesworth should be instantiated as the Chief Coach for the Men's Hockey team. You ask anything to these people they have all the facts and figures to support their cause. Alas, their number is few.

On the other side, you have "For Only an Indian" group. They say that Indian person, and only an Indian, can bring about a change in the state of affairs. Each one has a solution with them, how to improve the pathetic state of the game. Amongst all skewed statistics that they possess, these people lack planning, vision, have malice in mind (which cannnot be proved in any forum) but have one thing that no one can ever dispute (in the same, above mentioned forums - to say the least): I love Hockey.

So, you have two poles-apart opinions: Get a foreigner v Get an Indian.

(Foreigner here is primarily meant in context of a "white" person.)

I feel it's a mammoth task to go to a completely "For a Foreigner" because it needs a massive attitude shift for the other section. Since, this other section is large in number and no one can dispute their so called 'love' for the game, it's likely that the "For a Foreigner" group is gonna loose the battle.

However, with Ric Charlesworth (more or less) out of the fray, I feel the battle has not been really lost as IOA made an annoucement today that they are likely to get an "Foreigner Technical Expert". As reported by Hindustan Times, the name of Tayyab Ikram, FIH coaching Project Manager, is going around.

I am not aware of who he is but I surely believe anyone who holds official post in FIH. I am sure he/she would have a professional approach.

I feel this is a smart move to give a push to the thinking of "For Only an Indian" group. Have an Indian coach but have a Technical Expert from outside. Now, this outsider belongs to the sub-continent. This may be a move to please the FIH, but I welcome it. For, I believe that until there is no pressure or no external authority to please nothing much comes out.

Be it either of the 2 reasons, but I feel, IOA officials are thinking of a change, although a small one.

This may be the start of an era which will one day culminate in a day when you have a foreign coach. So, "For a foreigner" group need not be that dissappointed with the state of affairs, afterall.
Or to sum it all, may be, I just found a reason to keep my hope alive!! :)

1 comment:

HOCKENOMIC said...

Guptaji you know why?
We Indians have become foreigners to the present game ..
So when we ourselves are foreigners how can we accept an other foreigner?

These guys at the helm of affairs should understand that its not about a foreigner ruling or teaching us its about who is best in the trade.
When the most advanced countries viz USA ,Australia etc can hire foreign coaches why not us ..

And why dont we understand the Foreingers coming here, proudly say that" WE HAVE LEARNT HOCKEY FROM INDIANS, WHEN INDIANS WERE THE BEST "

So as an Indian what is wrong to learn from them when they are the BEST now.

CHANGE yeah the most difficult thing to happen and CHANGE would have happened EASILY If WE had learnt the lessons FOR FAILURE, which i presume that we have not.