New Delhi: It was obvious from the second the Hockey India League (HIL) was delivered to fruition, {that a} sure Graham Reid would make his return to India.
The 60-year-old is not any abnormal coach, and holds a fairly exalted standing in India. It was below the Australian that the Indian males’s hockey staff made an unimaginable return to the Olympic podium in Tokyo after 41 years.
Reid is again in India as the top coach of HIL franchise Delhi SG Pipers the place he will probably be joined by former India captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who’s the aspect’s director of hockey.
On his first journey to India since his resignation in January 2023 submit the staff’s disastrous exit on the World Cup, HT caught up with the previous India chief coach to debate the revamped HIL, the gamers’ public sale, his ideas on India profitable a successive Olympic bronze and what he misses about India amongst different issues. Excerpts:
Have you ever been in contact with the Indian gamers because you left?
Yeah, in fact. Once they received the Asian Video games after which the Olympic bronze, I congratulated them.
What was your response whenever you have been approached for a brand new function again in India?
Effectively, it was thrilling. It got here out of the blue slightly bit. One of many different franchises contacted me at some stage, however I by no means heard again. After which Sree(jesh) contacted me and mentioned, ‘Are you taking a look at coming over?’. I assumed it’d be nice. And I mentioned, ‘yeah’, after operating it previous my new employers. They knew that it was a risk that I’d get requested. They gave it a thumbs up. I’m very comfortable to be trustworthy.
What are your ideas and impressions of the public sale, and the league returning after virtually eight years?
I congratulate Hockey India (HI). It’s the most-asked query that has been on everybody’s lips just about for the final six years. Each time you converse to somebody, they’re like, ‘Have you ever heard something about HIL? When’s it coming again?’ So, it was actually good that they’ve been in a position to prepare it. It’s going to have just a few teething issues as all of us do nevertheless it’s up and operating. Let’s see the way it goes. And because the FIH President mentioned the opposite day, it’s simply great for the sport of hockey all over the world, not solely India.
How was it to see the Indian staff, one that you simply’ve helped construct, win a successive Olympic bronze in Paris?
It was very nice to be trustworthy. I had a way of delight, however I additionally had a way that issues have continued, which is all the time good to see. They are often proud that they’ve now acquired two bronze medals in a row. That’s an actual optimistic for the sport right here in India. After all, 90% of the individuals who have been in Paris, I do know very properly, with whom I had spent all these years.
What sort of game-style adjustments do you see within the staff because you left?
They’re most likely slightly extra defensive. They fall away slightly greater than what I used to do, however that’s to be anticipated. I do know that the majority coaches don’t like urgent maybe as a lot as I do. They’ve acquired a very good combine going. It’s been nice to observe from the sidelines. A lot much less demanding (laughs).
From watching the staff from the dugout to following them on TV – how a lot has your perspective modified?
Effectively, I assumed I might have combined emotions, nevertheless it was nice. I actually loved watching them. Residing again in Australia and being slightly bit extra concerned with the Australian system, I’ve just a few extra loyalties in Australia. However I liked watching them play and I used to be very comfortable after I noticed them win bronze. It’s good for the sport. All these gamers have made a number of sacrifices. So, it was good to see. I hope that they reap the rewards that all of them deserve.
You talked about adjustments. What are the stuff you seen that the staff has carried on out of your time to now?
I’ve been having fun with the best way they’re attacking. They’re nonetheless creating a number of alternatives. Typically one of many issues enjoying defensively is that it may possibly have an effect on the variety of alternatives that you simply create in assault. However they’re creating these. And that you must do this whenever you’ve acquired such a fantastic drag-flicker as Harmanpreet (Singh). It is advisable to be making these corners to offer you these alternatives. One of many positives is that it’s very onerous to get a bronze medal with out each working. It’s nice to see, for instance, somebody like Abhishek, who got here into the camp round January 2022, to see him blossom and play video games after which come into his personal on the Olympics was implausible. Folks like Sukhjeet have come by way of as properly. He began at a really comparable time. The others too have began to blossom, reaching the spotlight of their profession.
India didn’t medal on the Olympics for 41 years and now have received two within the final two Video games. What do you suppose is the core cause?
They’ve been collectively a very long time. There’s camaraderie. They’ve been by way of quite a bit. As I mentioned after Tokyo, don’t underestimate the camaraderie that you simply get from being caught inside throughout Covid. That began the entire getting to grasp one another higher.
Additionally, Craig (Fulton) has executed a implausible job in protecting the fellows collectively.
What have you ever been as much as within the final one-and-a-half years?
I went again to Perth and was working within the girls’s programme in Western Australia for 10 months. I took over from Steph Andrews who had a child so needed to take maternity go away. I taken care of the ladies, helped that group and completely loved it. It’s the primary time that I’ve coached girls, however I liked it. I want I had moved throughout to the ladies slightly earlier. That’s life nevertheless it’s been a very good change in surroundings, seeing issues from a special aspect and completely different expertise that the ladies have and their capacity to hear. They’re a lot better listeners than the boys.
What have you ever missed about India within the time you have been away?
I used to be eager about it right this moment. It’s simply the consolation of the noise, the smells, the sounds. India has so many issues happening at anybody time. Any someday you will notice one thing that you simply haven’t seen earlier than. We miss that. We had an excellent relationship with the road canine in Bengaluru. We take into consideration them quite a bit. And, in fact, the meals.
