Sommayya for foreign coaches

Arjuna Award winner in hockey MM Sommayya, who was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board...

Arjuna Award winner in hockey MM Sommayya, who was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board here today, attributed India8217;s poor performance to the lack of professionalism.

The former international star said: 8220;Over the past two decades, there has been a sea change in the game internationally. Nations that adapted to the demands

of the modern hockey are now generally among the winners.8221;

Talking to The Indian Express on the sidelines of the PSPB award function here this evening, he said: 8220;Somehow India could not keep pace with the modern times. That8217;s one of the major factor responsible for their sagging fortunes.8221;

Regarding professional approach, Sommayya said: 8220;To keep up with the leaders, apart from a good coach, support staff, sports medicine specialist and physiotherapist are required.8221; Sadly, these issues are generally talked about but never implemented, he added.

Sommayya wasn8217;t averse to the idea of having a foreign coach. 8220;There are two areas where we are pretty weak8212;goalkeeping and penalty corner conversion. If the federation thinks foreign experts can improve us, there is nothing wrong in appointing them.8221; Asked why India are erratic8212;they can beat the best on one day, then fall to an ordinary team the next8212;he said: 8220;Frequent change of players as well coaches is responsible for that.8221; He suggested that both the players and coach must have a long stint. 8220;It8217;s a team game, and not individual brilliance that counts on the field.8221;

If players are uncertain of their place in the team, they will not be able to deliver the goods, he said. The hockey think-thank must give time to players for settling down. The results will follow, he added.

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The Mumbai-based player said that the next few months was crucial for Indian hockey. 8220;Good preparation could help India win a berth for the 2008 Olympics. Getting a passage to the Beijing Olympics will give a fillip to the game that has recently been relegated from the priority list.8221;

Sommayya has recently been made the technical director of the Indian Hockey Federation IHF. He has faith in the current squad, and says there are enthusiastic and fit.