Nobbs’ fears about World Series Hockey unfounded: Baskaran
November 10th, 2011 - 6:45 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Former India hockey captain Vasudevan Baskaran feels that national chief coach Michael Nobbs’ fear about the World Series Hockey (WSH) hampering the team’s preparations for Olympic qualification is unfounded.
The inaugural WSH season from Dec 17-Jan 22 will clash with the national camp for the Olympic qualifiers from Feb 15. Nobbs has made it clear that the players cannot be spared from the camp.
Baskaran, however, said the national team players are experienced and professionals and they know how to adjust to different conditions.
“They are all experienced players. They will be better off playing against some of the top names in world hockey in a competition rather than going through a routine in the national camp,” Baskaran told IANS.
Baskaran went a step ahead to say that Nobbs, who has taken over the reins in July, should have confidence in his team.
“As a national coach, he should have confidence in his players and should not indulge in negative talk,” said Baskaran, who is one of the eight coaches hired by WSH.
Baskaran, captain of the gold-medal winning team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, said it is high time the hockey administrators stopped putting restrictions on players.
“Give them the freedom to decide what they want. That will make them responsible for their actions as well. The WSH will be a big learning curve for them. They will meet players from various countries and other Indian states. It will pull down some of the barriers and make them professionals.”
“The WSH will also help them financially. It will boost their confidence. If you allow them to do what they are happy with, they will be in a better state of mind while playing for the national team.”
“Take the example of cricket, players compete in IPL, and other formats as well. Likewise in football, players have to switch from club football to national team matches and they do adjust. Even in hockey, players go around playing national leagues in Europe. So, let’s stop dictating terms to our players and create an environment where they can grow.”
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- Pakistan's Shakeel Abbasi braves ban to play in WSH - Mar 02, 2012
- Hockey squad picked on performance not reputation: Nobbs - Jan 31, 2012
- Six top Indian hockey players pull out of WSH - Nov 30, 2011
- Six more Indian hockey players pull out of WSH - Dec 01, 2011
- Hockey camp to focus on fitness, strength: Nobbs - Mar 12, 2012
- Celebrations as India hockey back in Olympic race - Feb 27, 2012
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- WSH and IHF to give cash incentives for hockey team's Olympic success - Nov 21, 2011
- WSH postponed to Feb 29 - Dec 12, 2011
- Nobbs focussed on allround development of Indian hockey - Jun 30, 2011
- No problem if WSH is held after Olympic qualifiers: Chettri - Dec 06, 2011
- HI bans Sandeep, Sardara for two years - Aug 27, 2011
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