Fox Sports, Australia
http://www.foxsports.com.au/beijing_olympics/story/0,27313,24034225-5016780,00.html
Ric Charlesworth interested in taking Kookaburras job
HOCKEY legend Ric Charlesworth has expressed strong interest in becoming head coach of the Australian men's team after the Beijing Olympics. Charlesworth, 58, one of the code's greatest players and most respected figures, admitted yesterday the prospect of returning to head coaching at elite level is enticing.
The men's job will be vacant after the Olympics because coach Barry Dancer is ending his seven-year reign.
Charlesworth is mulling over whether he will apply and his stunning portfolio will make him one of the favourites if he decides to do so.
He is currently close to splitting with the Indian hockey following a difficult time in his one-year contract which expires in December. He was hired as a consultant but feels his message is not getting through.
"(Coaching in Australia) is one of the possibilities ahead of me . . . it depends on the next week and how this thing in India resolves itself," Charlesworth said.
"If I am interested at all it will be in the men's team. I have done the job with the women. I spent a long time with that program."
The men's team could prove especially attractive to Charlesworth given his son Jonno played with several young stars at international youth level who are now surging into the top team.
Charlesworth has lived a life of high achievement. A qualified doctor, he was a member of federal parliament for a decade, has written three books, captained Western Australia in Sheffield Shield cricket as was recently employed as New Zealand cricket's high performance manager.
No lesser judge that recently retired Australian cricket coach John Buchanan felt Charlesworth would have made an excellent Australian cricket coach.
Though famed for his deeds with an Australian women's team he moulded into one of the most dominant female sporting teams in the world, Charlesworth would be more interested in linking with the men's side which he has never coached.
Charlesworth left mainstream hockey coaching after guiding the women's team to the gold medal in Sydney.
The catch could be getting a clearance from the International Hockey Federation who sanctioned his deal with India.
"I have said to India if you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting," Charlesworth said.
"My job was advisory and there in not much more I can do. They need to take some action. That is what it comes down to. Whether it goes any further depends on what they do."
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Bitter medicine for the Aussie doctor
From Today's Deccan Herald:
HOCKEY Ric Charlesworth episode
Bitter medicine for the Aussie doctor
Things never seem to change in Indian sport. Callous attitudes, disregard for a good player or coach, ego clashes, bad planning and many such reasons have ensured that sport in India continues to be mediocre at best.
The recent episode of Indian hockeys technical advisor Ric Charlesworth allegedly quitting his post after being fed up with the way things work in the country has hopefully made people sit up and take notice. As if failing to qualify for the Olympics was not enough for people to get serious about hockey! After the previous regime of the Indian Hockey Federation led by KPSGill tumbled, one would have thought things would improve for the better. But sadly, the lessons have not been learnt. It looks like people do not want to make afresh beginning to try and regain the glory days of Indian hockey.
Charlesworth was a man full of hope when he came to India. He had just quit as the high-performance manager of the New Zealand cricket team. This legendary Australian had that fire in the belly. Obviously a big fan of Indian skill, he wanted to coach the country to gold medals at the highest levels.
It is believed that his Indian assignment is costing about $150,000 a year. He was to get this amount from the Indian Government and the International HockeyFederation (FIH), which is keen to promote hockey in India. Charlesworth has always wanted to coach the senior mens team but according to him, his role was not clearly defined. After hiring a good coach like him and agreeing to pay a hefty sum, the question is why is he not being allowed to work freely. Indian hockey is in tatters.
Why not give a chance, and a free hand, to someone like Charlesworth to try things out his way? Why not use his services when he is being paid a handsome sum. If not, what is the point in having him in India at all? It all looked rosy when the former Australian captain arrived in the country. He had not realised how tough things are really in India, something he admitted recently. A contract was given but not to his satisfaction. The usual dilly-dallying from the authorities followed.
The fact is that Charlesworth has had no opportunity to feel at home or love his job. It has been trouble and hardship all along. He received cold shoulders from people occupying the hot seats. Being here as the advisor, there was no one to consider his advice. It was always a case of who is he to tell me how to do things? Ultimately, the Indian Olympic Association also came out to say that he is not needed in India.
The previous office-bearers in the IHF have left the game in a mess. With the adhoc committee taking over after Gill and Cos ouster, it seemed that things would improve. But that has not happened so far. There is an absolute need for all to work together India are to nurse any hope of improving. Why not listen to someone who has led Australian teams to gold medals, both as a coach and player? Maybe he is the right doctor to cure Indian hockey. If not, what is the point in hiring him at all? The whole exercise would appear to be a waste of time for Charlesworth and money for the Indian Government.
There is still hope as he has not completely ruled out coming back to India. He has made it crystal clear that he does not want to be in any kind of advisory role and payments due to him must be made.If it is decided to retain his services, India would be better off taking a few tips from this sporting legend.
VIVEK PHADNIS
HOCKEY Ric Charlesworth episode
Bitter medicine for the Aussie doctor
Things never seem to change in Indian sport. Callous attitudes, disregard for a good player or coach, ego clashes, bad planning and many such reasons have ensured that sport in India continues to be mediocre at best.
The recent episode of Indian hockeys technical advisor Ric Charlesworth allegedly quitting his post after being fed up with the way things work in the country has hopefully made people sit up and take notice. As if failing to qualify for the Olympics was not enough for people to get serious about hockey! After the previous regime of the Indian Hockey Federation led by KPSGill tumbled, one would have thought things would improve for the better. But sadly, the lessons have not been learnt. It looks like people do not want to make afresh beginning to try and regain the glory days of Indian hockey.
Charlesworth was a man full of hope when he came to India. He had just quit as the high-performance manager of the New Zealand cricket team. This legendary Australian had that fire in the belly. Obviously a big fan of Indian skill, he wanted to coach the country to gold medals at the highest levels.
It is believed that his Indian assignment is costing about $150,000 a year. He was to get this amount from the Indian Government and the International HockeyFederation (FIH), which is keen to promote hockey in India. Charlesworth has always wanted to coach the senior mens team but according to him, his role was not clearly defined. After hiring a good coach like him and agreeing to pay a hefty sum, the question is why is he not being allowed to work freely. Indian hockey is in tatters.
Why not give a chance, and a free hand, to someone like Charlesworth to try things out his way? Why not use his services when he is being paid a handsome sum. If not, what is the point in having him in India at all? It all looked rosy when the former Australian captain arrived in the country. He had not realised how tough things are really in India, something he admitted recently. A contract was given but not to his satisfaction. The usual dilly-dallying from the authorities followed.
The fact is that Charlesworth has had no opportunity to feel at home or love his job. It has been trouble and hardship all along. He received cold shoulders from people occupying the hot seats. Being here as the advisor, there was no one to consider his advice. It was always a case of who is he to tell me how to do things? Ultimately, the Indian Olympic Association also came out to say that he is not needed in India.
The previous office-bearers in the IHF have left the game in a mess. With the adhoc committee taking over after Gill and Cos ouster, it seemed that things would improve. But that has not happened so far. There is an absolute need for all to work together India are to nurse any hope of improving. Why not listen to someone who has led Australian teams to gold medals, both as a coach and player? Maybe he is the right doctor to cure Indian hockey. If not, what is the point in hiring him at all? The whole exercise would appear to be a waste of time for Charlesworth and money for the Indian Government.
There is still hope as he has not completely ruled out coming back to India. He has made it crystal clear that he does not want to be in any kind of advisory role and payments due to him must be made.If it is decided to retain his services, India would be better off taking a few tips from this sporting legend.
VIVEK PHADNIS
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
IOA plans interviews for Indian Hockey Coach
Indian Olympics Association (IOA),which has been taking care of the dissolved Indian Hockey Federation(IHF), has announced that it will conduct 'walk-in' interviews for coaches for Indian Hockey team.
This step, I feel, should bring in some appreciation from the Hockey intelligensia.
What it means?
It means that from hereonwards, coaches will not be appointed/dropped at the whims and fantasies of the adminstrators. This, I feel, is a step towards a process oriented approach. How transparently process is implemented comes later on.
Atleast, the people who apply for the post will have to think before they apply for the post. Also, there will be more transparency as to who are the front runners for the post. Moreover, the administrators will have point out 'logical points' why they chose one and rejected others.
Overall, I welcome this step and see it the begining of:
1) Transparency
2) Process oriented approach
3) Better accountability from both sides - the administrators and the coaches.
Contract system is something that I wait for as this good news sinks in....
This step, I feel, should bring in some appreciation from the Hockey intelligensia.
What it means?
It means that from hereonwards, coaches will not be appointed/dropped at the whims and fantasies of the adminstrators. This, I feel, is a step towards a process oriented approach. How transparently process is implemented comes later on.
Atleast, the people who apply for the post will have to think before they apply for the post. Also, there will be more transparency as to who are the front runners for the post. Moreover, the administrators will have point out 'logical points' why they chose one and rejected others.
Overall, I welcome this step and see it the begining of:
1) Transparency
2) Process oriented approach
3) Better accountability from both sides - the administrators and the coaches.
Contract system is something that I wait for as this good news sinks in....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Olympians-Explained in Indian Hockey context
What's the difference between
Aslam Sher Khan and Ric Charlesworth?
Sandeep Singh and Taeke TAEKEMA?
Pargat Singh and Bevan George?
They all are "Olympians" but the only difference is one has not won an Olympic medal whereas other one has.
Whereas I have full respect for all players who represented the country at any point of time, I feel the nomenclature should be appropraite and what one really deserves.
I thought of something like:
Players' name (n O)
where
n: is the number of Gold medals won in Olympics
So, how about:
Olympian Aslam Sher Khan (0 O)
Olympian Dhanraj Pillay (o O)
Olympian V Bhaskaran (1 O)
Olympian Pargat Singh (0 O)
Olympian Balbir Singh(3 O)
Olympian Ashish Ballal (0 O)
Olympian A B Subbaiah (o O)
Olympian Zafar Iqbal (1 O)
Olympian Ajit Pal Singh (0 O)
...........................................the list can go on.
If you don't agree, you can suggest one to me..!
Today's generations' memory is only till the time they saw something in front of them or LIVE on TV. So, the above terminology is open to further proposed update....
Aslam Sher Khan and Ric Charlesworth?
Sandeep Singh and Taeke TAEKEMA?
Pargat Singh and Bevan George?
They all are "Olympians" but the only difference is one has not won an Olympic medal whereas other one has.
Whereas I have full respect for all players who represented the country at any point of time, I feel the nomenclature should be appropraite and what one really deserves.
I thought of something like:
where
n: is the number of Gold medals won in Olympics
So, how about:
Olympian Aslam Sher Khan (0 O)
Olympian Dhanraj Pillay (o O)
Olympian V Bhaskaran (1 O)
Olympian Pargat Singh (0 O)
Olympian Balbir Singh(3 O)
Olympian Ashish Ballal (0 O)
Olympian A B Subbaiah (o O)
Olympian Zafar Iqbal (1 O)
Olympian Ajit Pal Singh (0 O)
...........................................the list can go on.
If you don't agree, you can suggest one to me..!
Today's generations' memory is only till the time they saw something in front of them or LIVE on TV. So, the above terminology is open to further proposed update....
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