News 22 October 2014
All the news for Wednesday 22 October 2014
USWNT secures first win in series over New Zealand
U.S. Women’s National Field Hockey Team midfielder Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg, Pa.) picks up the pen to give us a recap of Team USA’s third match against New Zealand.
New Zealand - October 21, 2014 - After a stellar start to the third match of a six game series, Team USA found themselves on the board in the opening minutes of play courtesy of Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.). As the match continued the pace only quickened. In the 24th minute, capitalizing from a turnover in the midfield, Kat Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) connected the ball to the backboard to give USA 2 goals heading into halftime, which would prove to be the game winning goal.
Game three was played at a high tempo throughout the pitch and was filled with physical play. Tensions were high with four cards surfacing in the game. With an energetic home crowd pushing the Black Sticks on, Anita Punt was able to tack a goal on the board in the 57th minute but Team USA bounced back with great defensive intensity that proved to be too much for the Kiwis.
"During times of freneticism we were able to weather the storm by coming up with big stops in our defensive end," veteran Rachel Dawson (Berlin, N.J.) commented after the final whistle. "It wasn't always pretty, but that's sport and sometimes you just need to gut it out."
More penalty shootouts were practiced last night, which was equally exciting as the game. After a 3-3 tie in the five regular penalties, it took four more rounds of sudden death to find a winner. Shot after shot, Jackie Kintzer-Briggs (Robesonia, Pa.) made incredible saves for USA. Eventually, the Black Sticks found the back of the net to pull ahead with a 4-3 win. "She is only human," muttered Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.), joking about Kintzer-Briggs who showed quite the performance to keep USA in the shootouts.
A team focus going into game three was to contest every play, to not back down from our opponent and out work them. As we all gathered into the huddle for the final remarks after the game, spirits were high. We got the win but more importantly we worked hard and we protected each other. We had each other's backs, and when things got chaotic the team stuck it out together.
After last night's hard earned win, Team USA gets to enjoy a rest day away from hockey. The girls are hoping for a mid-day excursion to go shopping in town, checking out the local cafes and wandering through the Rugby museum.
USFHA media release
Days after winning Asiad gold, coach Walsh resigns
Australian blames sporting bureaucracy, says open to re-negotiation
Harpreet Kaur Lamba
Indian hockey coach Terry Walsh on Tuesday put in his papers, weeks after guiding the team to a gold at the Asian Games. On a day of high drama, Walsh cited "difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in India" as the reason behind his move, suggesting his differences with Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India.
After a series of meetings with HI and SAI though, he is believed to have "agreed to reconsider his decision".
"There is fatigue factor but I feel I just need to move away from the contents of what presently exists in my contractual arrangements. We are now looking at the possibility of how that can be reset," Walsh was quoted as saying.
"We are right now in a position of re-negotiations and see how it may or may not turn out. Let’s see what happens. We have got a month to solve that."
Walsh is slated to meet SAI officials on Wednesday and a "compromise formula" is believed to be on the way to enable the Australian to stay on till 2016 - the period of his contract. While all is not well within the set-up, those in the know indicate that the day’s development could well be part of HI’s "pressure tactics" following days of tussle with SAI. The two bodies have been at loggerheads in the last few months, with issues pertaining to logistics, venues of national camps, team clearance, etc.
Confusion prevailed as SAI maintained that it had never received any complaint from Walsh until today, while HI blamed the former for the Australian’s move. SAI director general Jiji Thomson was categorical when he said, "We do not deal with Walsh on a day-to-day basis. So, the sporting bureaucracy could be HI also."
It is no secret that almost all foreign coaches have found it "difficult" to work under HI president Narinder Batra, who believes in calling the shots.
In a closed-door meeting with the national players on Monday night, Walsh had said, "I have decided to leave. It is very difficult to work in an environment when I do not even have a say in deciding camp dates, venues or even a small thing like announcing the final team to the players.
"There is a lot of interference from the authorities (both HI and SAI) and it is not a conducive environment to make any real progress."
Said high performance director Roelant Oltmans when contacted, "Of course, we (me and Walsh) face some serious problems. Sometimes, we can cope but it is not always easy to do so.
"The camps are too long, the rest periods too short. It is hard to take decisions and the authorities haven’t been very easy either."
Asked to elaborate on who the authorities were, the Dutchman said, "It is always three parties -- the coaches, SAI and HI. We all need to work in the same direction to work on the solutions."
In fact, Walsh and Oltmans were under severe pressure to deliver the goods at the Asian Games or lose their jobs, despite being handed contracts till 2016.
Besides, there have always been issues pertaining to logistics and sometimes, even team selection. Walsh, it is learnt, was also peeved in the sudden manner he was asked to join the ongoing camp on October 14 and hold trials the very next day. It was not part of his original schedule.
The Australian had decided on a two-week rest for the players after the Asiad -- the team were supposed to gather in Delhi on October 19.
"This is not how professional teams are managed and run. During the first four days of the camp, the players were given a very light schedule which included no hockey training, since we could not break away from their schedules," said a member of the support staff. "In short, the players and the coaches should have been home during this period."
However, as things stand now, Wednesday’s meeting will hold to Walsh’s future.
The Asian Age
Terry Walsh quits as chief coach of national team
A file photo of Terry Walsh who on Tuesday resigned as Indian hockey chief coach over a “pay dispute” with the Sports Authority of India. Photo: S. Subramanium
The resignation, however, is subject to further talks between the parties concerned in the next one month, but the blame game has already begun.
The Indian men’s hockey team chief coach Terry Walsh resigned from the post, citing difficulty in working under the present system of governance.
The resignation, however, is subject to further talks between the parties concerned in the next one month, but the blame game has already begun.
Walsh, who took charge of the team exactly a year ago, led India to its only third Asian Games title recently at Incheon, securing a berth at the 2016 Olympics. However, despite visible improvements during his tenure, Walsh had been under constant pressure. It was said he was close to losing his job after India’s disappointing performance at the World Cup earlier this year.
“I am finding considerable difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in India which I believe, in the long term, is not in the best interests of Indian hockey or its players,” Walsh wrote in his resignation letter to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) director-general Jiji Thomson.
“The entire issue is about the decision-making process in Indian bureaucracy. I find it difficult to work in a professional manner in this system. We are now at a place where we are seeing if we can adjust the way it operates. But there are issues that we have to solve if we have to go forward,” Walsh said. He, however, ruled out any monetary dispute with SAI.
Constrained
Team sources claimed Walsh had sounded out a few senior players on Monday night, saying he would not like to continue if, as coach, he was not allowed to even name his final team selection without permission from the federation.
Walsh, with a contract that runs till Olympics, said, “As of now, my tenure ends on November 19, 2014. If things do change then yes (I can think of continuing) but as it presently exists, no.”
Asked what changes he was looking at, Walsh said, “The High Performance Group should have a greater say in what happens, when and how, and the flexibility to change them according to the team’s requirements. I am not looking at any special favours but if I cannot arrange something that is needed (as mundane as ice for players), then what’s the point,” Walsh said.
Hockey India (HI) President Narinder Batra lamented that the resignation was only the culmination of the long-drawn harassment by government and SAI officials. “This is not the first time this has happened neither will it be the last. I have repeatedly said that the officials are trying to kill hockey in the country to satisfy their petty egos and now the team will pay the price,” he said.
Thomson hit back, accusing HI of forcing the issue. “Walsh is a gem of a person and one of the top coaches in the world. He expressed anguish regarding working in a suffocating atmosphere in the federation,” he said in a press statement.
Sources at SAI said Walsh was upset with the archaic and dictatorial style of HI and was not interested in continuing. He is also said to have offered to coach online or through correspondence since he was spending too much time away from his family. The immediate option being considered is to give charge of the team to High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans.
Report sought
Surprised at the development, Sports Minister Sarbanand Sonowal sought report on the issue from SAI and his own secretary within 24 hours. “It’s a serious issue. After learning about the development, I have passed on the instructions to SAI Director General and Secretary, Sports Ministry, to explain the cause of the resignation within 24 hours,” Sonowal said.
The Hindu
Indian chief coach Terry Walsh resigns
s2h Team
In a shocking development, Indian men's chief coach Terry Walsh has resigned from the post citing both technical issues with the employer Sports Authority of India, and personally taxing toll on his domestic commitments
Terry Walsh's contract expires next month 19th.
Accordingly to sources, despite sudden resignation of Terry Walsh, the issue is not closed, as there is a scope for HI to mediate with Sports Authority of India and Terry Walsh.
Its actually history returns for Terry, as he had resigned from his first foreign assignment, that is, Malaysian Hockey Federation, in the mid 90s with dispute on taxes on his salary.
Here too, he cited circuitous bureaucracy, and the clause in the agreement that leads to TDS and the total time needed to be with the team, which has robbed him of family time, as reasons for this sudden decision.
Terry Walsh, who succeeded countrymen Michael Nobbs, delivered results in a year, getting India Rio Olympic berth via Incheon Asian Games gold.
Stick2Hockey.com
A self goal for hockey as Terry Walsh quits
Biswajyoti Brahma
NEW DELHI: Indian hockey, only just beginning to savour some form of revival on the international stage, was dealt a fresh blow when chief coach Terry Walsh resigned on Tuesday citing "considerable difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in India".
The resignation has opened a can of worms at a time when Indian hockey was looking ahead with hope to the Rio Olympics following their goldmedal winning effort at the Incheon Asian Games, a feat that took 16 uncertain years in coming.
It also threw open the continuing fractious relationship that the Indian hockey administration has had with its foreign coaches. Walsh is the fifth foreign expert to bow out in such controversial circumstances. In a letter to Jiji Thomson, DG, Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Tuesday, Walsh mentioned "difficulties with not being able to professionally operate within... bureaucratic confines". Later, he denied that a pay dispute led to his action, while sources within the Hockey India (HI) had hinted at his unhappiness with a TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) issue on his salary.
Appointed by SAI on HI's recommendation in Oct 2013, the 60-year old Australian's contract was to expire next month in November, but it was expected to be extended till the Rio Games by the SAI. Walsh said, "The grounds that I resigned on are to do with the decision-making processes that exist in the bureaucracy of Indian sport. It has nothing to do with pay dispute. It's very frustrating if you are in that situation day in and day out and have to deal with it. I am not taking back my resignation."
Walsh's resignation shifts the focus away from the Asian Games gold winning team to the rift of egos between Hockey India and SAI, with the coach claiming that "flexibility and Indian bureaucracy don't go hand in hand. If I can't arrange for something that works then I can't do this. It's Hockey India, it's me, it's SAI, it's the whole thing. I find it difficult to work in a really professional manner with those sorts of decision-making processes in place.
"The system is not in place. You need much more flexibility and open operation in the way that things are managed," he added. SAI bosses, however, said that they will not accept Walsh's resignation immediately, without having a round of talks with the coach. "We have called him for talks tomorrow.He seemed to have some personal issues as well. We will talk to him and see if we can engage him in some way," Thomson told TOI.
Walsh's resignation took everyone by surprise with the sports minister Sarbanada Sonowal asking the SAI DG and sports secretary to explain the cause in 24 hours.
Walsh's move could leave a talented and hungry team bound for Rio de Janeiro stranded in mid-stream. In his letter, Walsh admitted to having become particularly attached to the playing group over the twelve month period. "In future years I would enjoy the prospect of retaining some involvement with the team and Indian Hockey," he wrote to Thomson, perhaps even hinting at an option of a comeback. Regarding the Sardar Singh-led team, Walsh maintained, "The team will be fine without me. We have processes in place which can handle the involvement of any individual. It's not reliance on one person. I am replaceable.
"I have made my decision. Now people need to make their decision."
NEVER A HAPPY MARRIAGE
Foreign coaches have had a testy relationship with the Sports Authority of India and the hockey establishment...
GERARD RACH (Germany)
India's first-ever foreign coach, Rach took over before Athens 2004. He was at the helm for a few months before quitting following an acrimonious fallout with the then Indian Hockey Federation. He had called the IHF a "madhouse."
RIC CHARLESWORTH
(Australia): The Oz legend joined Indian hockey as a technical advisor in 2007 before quitting after just seven months. He had several run-ins with the authorities, over payment matters.
JOSE BRASA (Spain)
Appointed in May 2009 and removed soon after the 2010 Asian Games. Just before his removal, Brasa accused Hockey India and SAI of treating him like a slave and not honouring their promises.
MICHAEL NOBBS (Australia)
Appointed chief coach in June 2011 and offered a five-year contract. Though he played it safe by quietly going about his job and without complaining about the system at place in India, he was shown the door just two years later, in July 2013, after 'poor' results.
The Times of India
India hockey coach resigns
Walsh lists bureaucratic system, time away from family as reasons behind the decision
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi - Just when it appeared Indian hockey was heading towards better times, Terry Walsh, the head coach of the men's team, resigned on Tuesday, blaming "sports bureaucracy' for the sudden decision.
Expressing anguish over the bureaucratic system, Walsh tendered his resignation to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Constant travel was another reason cited by the Australian behind his decision to put in his papers.
The Australian was also reportedly not happy with the deduction of tax from his salary, which is borne by the Sports Authority of India.
Coming as it does after he guided the team to a gold-medal finish in the Asian Games, the decision and its timing has left everyone surprised.The sparring between the SAI and Hockey India, too, may have pushed him into taking the drastic step. With both the bodies taking pot-shots at each other for some time now, Walsh was apparently under pressure. Ahead of the Asian Games, the SAI had issued a veiled threat to him that nothing but an Asiad gold could save his job.
In a letter to the SAI Director General, Jiji Thomson, Walsh said it had become difficult for him to operate professionally within the bureaucratic confines. “I am finding considerable difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sports bureaucracy which I believe, in the long term, is not in the best interests of the Indian hockey or its players... I am not willing to continue with the constant time away from my family. My current commitment places too much stress on my personal life,” he wrote. His contract expires on November 19, well ahead of the FIH Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar from December 6-14. Walsh, who has given a one-month deadline to the SAI to sort matters out, would become the third foreign hockey coach after Jose Brasa and Michael Nobbs to part ways with the team midway.
Soon after his resignation, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal formed a two-member committee, comprising Thomson and Secretary Sports Ajit Mohan Sharan, to look into the matter and report within 24 hours. “Let the report come, only then we can see what could be done. It's a serious issue,” said Sonowal.
Later, in a press statement, Thomson refused to accept that Walsh resigned due to bureaucratic difficulties. “During my interaction with him in the World Cup in The Hague in June 2014, we had a brief interaction on the lack of bench strength. Other than that, he hasn't made any complaint ever,” said Thomson.
“Today, Walsh visited our office and met Sudhir Setia, Executive Director (Teams). He expressed anguish regarding working in a suffocating atmosphere in the federation. We are totally unaware of what might have happened in Hockey India,” he added.
Hockey India presdent Narinder Batra, however, blamed the SAI for creating a suffocating environment for Walsh and other foreign staff. Batra, who has been bombarding Thomson with letters and RTI inquiries, said such a “disaster” was waiting to happen for some time.
Can review my decision: Walsh
The deep-rooted sports bureaucratic system has claimed another victim — Terry Walsh, the head coach of the men's hockey team. Walsh resigned within three weeks of guiding the Indian hockey team to the Asian Games glory, citing administrative hurdles in his job. Walsh opened up to The Tribune on the reason behind his sudden decision. Excerpts:
What are the reasons for your resignation?
I was not particularly happy about the decision-making process that exists in the bureaucracy of the Indian sport. It's frustrating when you have to deal with it day in and day out. The bureaucratic style of functioning is completely different from my style. I find it difficult to work in such an environment. That's the reason on professional front. On a personal front, I've been in India for long, away from my family. These are the two reasons, there's nothing more to it.
You are the third coach to part ways with Indian hockey citing bureaucratic difficulty.
The bureaucratic system is deep-rooted here, and it's not doing any good to the sport. My contract expires on November 19, and they (HI and SAI) still have a window to work things out. If we want to go forward, they have to build a professional atmosphere before my contract ends.
Have you met Hockey India and SAI officials? What was their reaction?
We (me and SAI) spoke openly about everything. There's no animosity between us. They have one month to put things back in order. It's time for others to make decisions.
Are you going to take back your resignation if things do move in right direction?
I am not going to take back my resignation if I don't see any change in the decision-making process. It (resignation) can be reviewed, but as things stand now, I don't see myself taking it back.
What kind of changes you want to see in the system?
I want the High-Performance team to have a greater say. The other part is flexibility in the bureaucratic process. The system can't be changed overnight, but you can work out some arrangement. We need certain things in a professional environment which should be easily accessible.
There's a talk that you have resigned following a pay dispute with SAI?
It's nothing to do with the pay dispute. I don't know where that comes from? I have a problem with the system, why are you linking it with the pay dispute? The methodology that's used here in India... I am unable to adjust to that.
What about team’s future?
The team will be fine. It's true that I have a fairly heavy influence on what's been going around, but the team is not reliant on one person. I am replaceable.
What hurt you the most?
The psyche of Indian sports is like if you fail, you will have a big review, but if you are successful, you don't have a review. What about the administrators? What about their review? The process of putting in place that World Cup review committee was nonsense.
The Tribune
India can't afford to let Terry Walsh go
Rutvick Mehta
Walsh is an honest man and an honest coach. One has no reason to believe that his concerns aren't honest. We know about the administrative issues that ail hockey (and most things) in India; we know about the interference in selection issues; we all know about the petty politics in the team
Indian hockey never ceases to amaze. Only a few weeks after the feel-good factor returned, the national sport found itself embroiled in another controversy.
The latest issue — things may get sorted for all you know — just goes on to show how troubled Indian hockey is. After trying out five foreign coaches in 10 years, the team finally seemed to have found a leader with a plan. A plan that wasn't about the 2014 Asian Games or, for that matter, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. It was about 2024.
Terry Walsh is in it for the long haul. Often, he stresses on the processes, and not the results. Thus, even when the entire country rode on the emotional high of India's Asiad triumph, Walsh cautioned everyone. With this kind of form, he said, the team would be lucky to finish in the top eight at the 2016 Olympics.
Walsh is an honest man and an honest coach. One has no reason to believe that his concerns aren't honest. We know about the administrative issues that ail hockey (and most things) in India; we know about the interference in selection issues; we all know about the petty politics in the team. Going by Walsh's statement, it seems the Aussie wants to either get rid of it all, or leave the scene.
The first scenario will mean he will have absolute power in matters relating to the team. Is that too much to ask? Many a coach has come and gone, leaving the job with unfulfilled promises and disappointing results. They, too, blamed the system. Why can't we change the system for a man who is thinking for the long-term good of Indian hockey? Payment issues, if any, can always be addressed.
If Walsh leaves, then he will become yet another coach to have left after a year in charge. Another man will replace him, and the problems will remain.
Let's think of the players, too. After several rounds of musical chairs, they found a genuine leader in Walsh. If nothing, they seemed happy. The least the authorities can do is address the issues and get Walsh to stay on.
DNA
Terry Tale: Resignation balloon will blow by morrow
K Arumugam
It is certain that the avoidable, unnecessary and untimely resignation of chief coach of Indian hockey, Terry Walsh, will blow over by tomorrow.
Indications that emerge, after media took of the issue on a large scale, is that some clauses in his contract with Sports Authority of India will be suitably altered so that the perceived grievances of Terry will be addressed, and his services will continue to be availed by the national team.
Honestly speaking, the media and the hockey world hockey world in this part of the continent were taken aback by the sudden turn of event today wherein the news of 'Golden coach' Terry Walsh's resignation was leaked by the known sources, who are adept at creating and destroying public perception.
Now that the resignation is no longer an issue between the triangle - Hockey India, Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India - but a national one, as mainline media has taken up it on a grand scale.
The news has even overtaken the issue of West Indies cricket tour's sudden withdrawal in public space, and is prominently highlighted on television and online news portals.
Now, it seems usually lethargic government top guns, Director General of Sports Authority of India and Secretary Sports, Govt of India, has invited indignant coach Terry Walsh for a meeting tomorrow, wherein the grievances (that are not made known to them) are going to be addressed and a draft for fresh contract is going to be made.
These two officials, who normally out of sync with what happens at ground level, seemed to have realized the weight of the issue, and were 'open-minded' to thrash out the issue. This is what they said on many television channels.
"Terry is my good friend, apart from it he is an excellent coach. We would like to have him for more time", said Jiji Thompson who will any case face the fury of media and Sports Ministry for whatever has happened.
Terry in his interview given here and there emphasized again what he has in a nutshell put out in his resignation email.
While he is completely in disagreement with the kind of sporting decision making process in India, and its futility to usher in a good sports governance, he emphasized the fact that he is not finding fault with one person or one organization but only want a beginning has to he made somewhere to correct the system failures".
"Things can be rectified, but somewhere first step has to be taken, who will take?"
None can dispute Terry's disappointment over the delays in the decision making, where ego plays major role -- as is evident from the ongoing verbal duels between HI and SAI in the run up to Commonwealth Games and Asian Games -- but this is a bigger issue that hampers India in every walk of life, which we in India are always fighting against.
Meanwhile, the air over the resignation has reached its logical end. The public opinion now is in favour of Terry's continuance, which is going to happen anyway.
Stick2Hockey.com
Terry Tale: SAI seems caught unawares
s2h Team
The Sports Authority of India supremo, Jiji Thampson has expressed utter surprise on the sudden resignation of Indian men's chief coach Terry Walsh.
"He has not complained anything to us so far, either in writing or in person. I am not aware of any sudden issues in him being the chief coach of the team. I am always available to him, could have easily picked up the phone and talked to me", said Jiji Thompson, Director General of Sports Authority of India, to a leading television news channel.
Terry had signed a annual contract with SAI to be the chief coach of the Men's national team. This contract, if not renewed, will expire on 19th Nov.
"Yesterday he came to our office, I could not meet him, but one of my colleagues engaged him", he added.
"I am taken by surprise on the resignation. By his letter of resignation, I understand it is not just the issue of Tax Deducted at Source, for which he needed to give a PAN No, which is as per Indian tax laws. However, I wish to tell you that Terry also mentioned his interest to work with Indian hockey in some capacity or other. He wanted to spend more time with family back in Australia".
Meanwhile Sports Minister, Government of India, Sonowal has ordered both Jiji Thampson and Secretary to file a report within 24 hours.
Yes, I ordered a status report. I asked DG, SAI and Secretary, Sports, to file a report within 24 hours. I will come out with my views only after seeing it", Minister said to a channel.
Narinder Batra, President of Hockey India, said that such a thing was in the offing over a period of time. "SAI has been very late or lethargic in taking many decisions, giving clearances for camps etc in the last minute, things like that are not liked by the foreign coaches, who are used to autonomous way of functioning", he elaborated.
It is certain now that Terry resigned on Saturday, and the matter was kept under wrap till HI thought of bringing it to the knowledge of media today.
Overall it seems the Sports Authority of India officials, who are used to their own ways of doing things at their pace, were taken aback by the backlash the resignation has kindled.
Every news channel is highlighting the issue, and panel discussions are right now on on many of them.
Stick2Hockey.com
Terry Walsh ready to stay, but wants new contract
NEW DELHI: Australian Terry Walsh, who resigned as Indian men's hockey team chief coach because of a "pay dispute", hinted that he was ready to reconsider his decision if he was given a new contract on his terms and conditions by the Sports Authority of India.
The 60-year-old Australian, a former Olympian, submitted his resignation in dramatic fashion barely three weeks after guiding the team to a historic gold in the Asian Games, saying that he was finding it difficult to adjust to the decision making style of the sporting bureaucracy in the country.
Hours after his resignation was made public, Walsh, whose contract was to run till the 2016 Rio Olympics, said he was looking for a "re-negotiation" for his contract.
"There is obviously fatigue factor but I feel I just need to move away from the contents of what presently exists in my contractual arrangements. We are now looking at the possibility of how that can be reset," Walsh said.
"We are right now in a position of re-negotiations and see how it may or may not turnout. Let's see what happens. We have got a month to solve that," he said.
Walsh said unless there were changes in the way things work in India, it would be difficult to produce results in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"I believe there needs to be some changes and alterations in the way things operate for us to be able to really give a good shot in 2016. Without those changes I just can't believe that we can go forward," he said.
The Australian conceded that his decision would have come as a shock for everybody.
"All are in a state of shock which was expected. We have become a very close unit. There is a lot more than just the 16 players. There is a whole group. We have got a lot of people invested in what's going on," he said.
Hockey India president Narinder Batra said such a "disaster" was waiting to happen for some time.
"I could see this coming quite sometime. There has been issues, there has been frustrations among the foreign staff. There is too much of interference, too much of delay from the government side which has been bothering them. We tried to get things sorted out," Batra said.
"There is too much of bureaucracy, too much of paperwork."
Hockey India's High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans, however, hoped that things would be sorted out between Walsh and his employer so as to pave the way for the Australian's stay till 2016 Olympics.
"I am sad about it because we have really grouped together well in the past one year. There was real improvement in the performance of the team. I would like Terry to continue but he has his personal reasons to do what he has done and in the end you have to respect that," Oltmans said.
"We started certain processes and that should continue. I am still hopeful that negotiations will lead to Terry's stay till Rio," the legendary Dutchman added.
The Times of India
Terry Walsh wants to go, but SAI says no
Hockey team's head coach resigns * Cites bureaucratic confines, stress on personal life * Sports Authority of India director-general promises to resolve issues * Says will convince Aussie to stay on
Rutvick Mehta
Indian hockey team coach Terry Walsh is findng difficulty in adjusting to the Indian sporting bureaucracy’s decision-making style
The great Indian hockey tamasha refuses to end.
In a dramatic turn of events, head coach Terry Walsh resigned on Tuesday, citing "bureaucratic confines" which he said were making it increasingly difficult for him to carry on.
In a letter to Sports Authority of India (SAI) director-general Jiji Thomson on Sunday, Walsh said, "I am finding it considerable difficulty adjusting to the decision-making style of the sporting bureaucracy in India which I believe, in the long term, is not in the best interests of Indian hockey or its players." The 60-year-old Australian added that the job was also putting too much stress on his personal life.
Hours after his resignation was made public on Tuesday, Walsh, whose contract was to run till the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, said he was ready to reconsider his decision if his contract was renewed according to his terms and conditions.
"We are right now in a position of re-negotiations and see how it may or may not turnout. Let's see what happens. We have got a month to solve that," Walsh said.
Union sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that he was hoping for a resolution and gave SAI 24 hours to prepare a report.
Well, it seems SAI is ready to play ball, and do whatever it takes to get the 1976 Montreal Olympics silver medallist to stay back. "We have appointed a committee to look into the matter. We will also have a discussion with Walsh tomorrow (Wednesday). He is a very good coach and we are confident of convincing him to stay back," Thomson told dna.
The "bureaucratic" problems that Walsh referred to was unnecessary interference in certain decision-making processes with regard to the team. "There are certain decisions that are made by the administrators, and certain that are made by the high-performance group. Sometimes, there was a difference in the way of thinking of the two groups, and the administrators wanted things to have their way. That is more or less the issue," Roelant Oltmans, Hockey India high-performance director and the man who suggested Walsh's name for the top job in October last year, told this paper.
"It's extremely sad because we are having a very good year and are in the process of constructing a quality team. The first solution, now, is to sort the problems between Walsh and the administration. If not, we'll have to start looking for some other person at some point in the near future," the Dutchman added.
However, a senior member of the Indian contingent that won the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games, said it was a case of high-handedness and ego clashes. "A chief coach can't resign for issues as petty as these," the he told dna, requesting anonymity. "Look, when Walsh took over, he knew the Indian system. He knew what problems existed. You can't just solve those problems in a short period of time. He had to produce results within the existing system, and he has now realised that he can't."
The member questioned why Walsh took one year to realise that the system was wrong. "He basically earned a handsome $16,000 per month for one year, and then suddenly decided to bring up this issue. It's ridiculous," he added.
It was also reported that another reason for Walsh's ire was the tax deducted at source (TDS) by the government on his and some of the other support staff's salaries.
While Oltmans rubbished it, saying "there was no payment-related issue", the member said it was again a petty matter. "Eventually, we will all get that money back. SAI or the government will not keep it with them. No one is cheating Walsh," he added.
Hockey India president Narinder Batra said in a statement that all foreign members of the support staff were unhappy with the tax issue and hoped it would be sorted. "We suggest that SAI have a re-look at his (Walsh's) contract before November19 (when it expires) so that he may continue till the Olympics. We suggest for a meeting between SAI and Walsh," Batra said.
Walsh took over the team in October last year, and after a disappointing World Cup campaign, has a Commonwealth Games silver and Asian Games gold to show.
WALSH AS COACH
Terry Walsh took over as Team India's head coach in October last year. Here's how the team has fared at major events since...
SIXTH Hockey World League (January 2014)
NINTH FIH World Cup (June 2014)
SILVER Commonwealth Games (July-Aug 2014)
GOLD Asian Games (Sept-Oct 2014)
DNA
Walsh matter will be resolved, we want him continue: SAI DG
NEW DELHI: Under pressure from all quarters after Indian men's hockey team chief coach Terry Walsh's sudden resignation because of a "pay dispute", the Sports Authority of India sprang into action with its DG Jiji Thomson assuring that the matter will "resolved" between the aggreived parties.
SAI DG said he met Walsh at his office on Tuesday and would convince the Australian to carry on in his post.
"I met him (Walsh) when he came to SAI today. He told me that he doesn't have any issues with SAI. The matter will be resolved. We want him to continue in his position," Thomson said.
In a sudden jolt to Indian hockey, Walsh resigned from his post because of a "pay dispute" with SAI, barely three weeks after guiding the team to a historic gold medal in the Asian Games in Incheon.
The 60-year-old Australian, himself a noted Olympian, submitted his resignation in dramatic fashion, saying that he was finding it difficult to adjust to the decision making style of the sporting bureaucracy in the country. His contract was to run till the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Soon after his resignation, sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that he was looking for a resolution of the issue and has sought a report from SAI within the next 24 hours.
On a day of high drama, Walsh's resignation created a flutter in the hockey fraternity and triggered off a blame game between Hockey India and SAI.
While HI maintained that the pay dispute and suffocating bureaucracy had prompted Walsh to quit, SAI rubbished that claim, saying that the Australian had never complained of any financial issues.
The Times of India
Sports minister seeks report on Walsh resignation in 24 hours
NEW DELHI: Surprised at chief hockey coach Terry Walsh's sudden resignation, sports minister Sarbanada Sonowal sought a report on the issue from Sports Authority of India and his own secretary within 24 hours.
Walsh, who guided India to a historic gold at the Incheon Asian Games, quit his post in a dramatic fashion on Tuesday astounding one and all.
"It's a serious issue. After learning about the development, I have passed on the instructions to SAI director general and secretary sports to explain the cause of the resignation within 24 hours," Sonowal said.
Asked if he was aware that Walsh had reportedly some tax issues with SAI, Sonowal replied in a negative.
"It was not in my knowledge. Let them submit a report only then we will see what can be done," Sonowal said.
SAI director general Jiji Thomson said Walsh's resignation has been accepted. He said the Australian never complained to them about any issue.
The Times of India
How a coach went missing in a 'mail' storm
NEW DELHI: "You must be feeling very happy one more person ie Terry Walsh has also resigned." This was Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra terse mail to Sports Authority of India (SAI) director general Jiji Thomson following chief coach Terry Walsh's resignation on Tuesday. Rather than lament the loss of a credible authority in the dugout, the two sports bodies responsible for the sport were taking petulant potshots at each other.
In reply, Thomson dashed off a 'clarification' which read, "Today, he (Walsh) made a visit to our office and had met Sudhir Setia, executive director (teams) wherein he expressed his anguish regarding working in a suffocating atmosphere in the Federation. We are totally unaware of what happened in Hockey India."
In another mail, earlier in the day, Batra had claimed that five of the foreign officials - Roelant Oltmans (high performance director), Neil Hawgood (women's team coach), Terry Walsh, Matt Tredrea and Matt Eyles - were feeling let down by SAI's handling of their TDS (tax deducted at source).
The genesis of Walsh's resignation belongs to the recent tradition of the Indian sport - the defeatist spectre of Indian sporting bureaucracy and its ways which Walsh too has claimed "is not in the best interests of Indian hockey or its players".
Relations between the two bodies soured in June when Batra threatened to pull out the hockey teams from the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games after the ministry had said it won't give additional funds for participation in these two events.
Batra then took on the ministry and SAI again after the Arjuna Award panel ignored the nominations of seven hockey players while choosing five out of 15 awardees from Kerala, Thomson's home state, for the honour. SAI retaliated to Batra's criticism by not clearing training camps for women's team at Bhopal. The HI official soon called for sports minister's intervention saying "we want fairness amongst your senior officers in ministry and SAI for build up of hockey... is not hampered by few egoistic individuals."
Hockey India piqued the sports officials further when he started pointing at problems faced at different SAI camps by athletes. It ranged from defective turfs at certain SAI centres to lack of basic facilities at others.
The standoff reached a boiling point when Batra wrote a mail to Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the DG SAI and sports secretary of "systematically finish hockey in the country"" Interestingly, though not surprisingly, both the parties on Tuesday blamed the other for Walsh's resignation. "I could see this coming quite some time," Batra was quoted as saying, Thomson replied through his statement: "If Mr Terry Walsh has had any complaint about the functioning of SAI, he would very well come and discussed it with us."
The Times of India
Latest: Indian hockey coach Terry Walsh withdraws resignation
NEW DELHI: In a massive relief to the Indian hockey, chief coach Terry Walsh, who resigned on Tuesday, has withdrawn his resignation after meeting with Sports Authority of India (SAI), Times Now reported.
Walsh resigned from his post barely three weeks after guiding the team to a historic gold medal in the Asian Games in Incheon and it created quite a flutter in the hockey world.
Walsh's resignation shifts the focus away from the Asian Games gold winning team to the rift of egos between Hockey India and SAI, with the coach claiming that "flexibility and Indian bureaucracy don't go hand in hand. If I can't arrange for something that works then I can't do this. It's Hockey India, it's me, it's SAI, it's the whole thing. I find it difficult to work in a really professional manner with those sorts of decision-making processes in place.
"The system is not in place. You need much more flexibility and open operation in the way that things are managed," he added.
The Times of India
Victorious U-21 hockey players return home to rousing welcome
NEW DELHI: The Indian Under-21 hockey team returned home to a rousing welcome after clinching the Sultan of Johor Cup with the upbeat players terming the victory as a stepping stone for bigger challenges ahead.
The players were received at the IGI airport by their family, friends, officials and hockey lovers late last night. They defeated Great Britain 2-1 in the final on October 19 at Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Captain Harjeet Singh was named 'Most Promising Player of the Tournament' while drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh bagged the 'Top Scorer of the Tournament' and 'Player of the Tournament' awards.
Speaking about the triumph, Harmanpreet said, "This tournament has helped the whole team in understanding each other even better and has given us the motivation as well as self-confidence to take up even bigger challenges in the future.
"Apart from the individual efforts, the team focussed on playing as one, which helped us in stopping the attacks coming in from the opponents," said the youngster.
Asked about his performance, he said, "I did not think that I would be winning the 'Player of the Tournament' and the 'Top Scorer of the Tournament' title at the start of the tournament but finishing the tournament with such appreciation has really boosted my confidence and morale.
"Coach Harendra Singh and entire support staff has worked really hard on each one of us to build a team like this and their efforts have helped us emerge victorious in the tournament."
The Times of India
Shahbaz honours silver winning hockey squad
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced cash prize of Rs200,000 for each player of the Pakistan hockey squad for winning silver medal in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea last month.
The announcement was made at a function hosted by the chief minister in honour of the national squad.
All the members of national hockey squad were introduced to the chief minister on the occasion.
Punjab Minister for Sports Rana Mashhood Ahmed presented the welcome address. The chief minister promised his full support for the revival of national game.
“Win or loss are part of game and our boys should not lose heart. There are numerous examples in history when brave nations manage to reassemble,” he said.
“Punjab government had also extended every kind of support to previous PHF management headed by ex-Olympian Qasim Zia. We will continue to offer full assistance to present PHF as well,” the chief minister said.
Backing PHF chief Akhtar Rasool’s point regarding visits of international teams, the chief minister asked the federation to invite top level teams any time.
“Our government will provide top level security to foreign sports teams whenever they visit,” he said.
Akhtar Rasool, head coach Shahnaz Sheikh also spoke on the occasion. The PHF chief thanked the chief minister for extending all kind of support for the game of hockey.
Dawn
Holcombe chairman predicts franchised league as Tina Cullen notches 400th goal
By Rod Gilmour
Fight to the top: Holcombe chairman (Kent club's Nicola White pictured in red) can see the day of franchised leagues Photo: PETER SAVAGE / HockeyImages.co.uk
League could be franchised, says South
David South, the Holcombe chairman, believes that a franchised national hockey league set-up “may come back on the agenda”. If national sides were to consistently threaten at major tournaments as well as reach high competitive levels, he says, then then day when Premier Division clubs pay England Hockey to have a franchise in the league could soon be upon us. “England Hockey have pushed the button on central contracts and the clubs will have to follow to an extent,” the property developer said.
That’s t-entertainment
It was quite a sight to see thousands of bikes parked outside the Kyocera Stadium at June’s World Cup (below, mostly unlocked). At next summer’s EuroHockey Championships at the Olympic Park, we can now expect to see an influx of caravans, with organisers hoping that Dutch and German fans will travel over in numbers.
Naomi Chant, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s event manager, says that three camping and caravanning sites will be used for the Euros. “The event will be very family-centric and Lee Valley is an ideal place for visitors to stay with beautiful open spaces and exciting sporting activities to enjoy,” she said.
The 'Kiwi Wizard'
Sad news reaches Diary of the death last week of Ivan Armstrong, aged 86. A successful hockey coach to five Olympians during his tenure at Auckland, he also represented New Zealand at the 1956 Olympics, as well as tennis umpiring at Wimbledon. He started out his international career in 1950 where an item from the Brisbane-based Courier Mail’s Day by Day column takes up the story:
“Our spy from the sporting world sidled into the office, removed his disguise (football boots, plus fours, binoculars) and told us that Ivan Armstrong was the man to watch in the New Zealand hockey team. On a previous tour, he explained, the New Zealanders had issued jersey No.13 to Howard Jones, who immediately fell off a tram and broke his knee. His jersey went to Ben Rogers, who proved to be a wizard scorer. This time No.13 went to Gus McGregor, who naturally broke his leg before the team sailed. So No.13 was passed to Armstrong - and his team-mates are waiting now for him to score like a demon.”
Quote of the month
“I got a letter asking if I’d accept the honour and I thought it must be one of my friends winding me up. I had to Google the name of the person who signed the letter to check and it turned out it was real. I was made up."
Tina Cullen, who notched her 400th league goal this month, reflects on her MBE in 2013.
League whispers
Which leading club believes that hockey transfers will come to fruition in the next few years?
Shootouts play to goalkeepers’ strengths
As both England goalkeepers noted to The Telegraph over the summer, George Pinner relishes the skill of the shootout over the lottery of the penalty stroke while women’s counterpart Maddie Hinch keeps a play book of her rivals. Once more, the business end at a major tournament was recently decided by the shootout, this time the Asian Games final between India and Pakistan. Undeterred by the vociferous Pakistan support in Incheon, Indian keeper P.R. Sreejesh proved the hero. "Before the final, I watched the video clips of Pakistan's victory in the semi-final against Malaysia as part of my preparation. That helped me a lot in understanding how our rival's strikers move and which angle they look to create goal during the shootout,” he revealed afterwards.
The Telegraph
Standout rise in the ranks
Leilani Fuikefu, 14, shines in roles anchoring three top hockey teams
By Campbell Burnes
Leilani Fuikefu.
Leilani Fuikefu prefers to let her hockey do the talking. And that hockey could tell a thing or two about a tremendous season for the softly spoken 14-year-old, Year 10 student at Mt Roskill Grammar.
Be it for her school hockey First XI, the Roskill-Eden club Under 18s or the Auckland Under 15 girls reps, Fuikefu has shone as a midfielder (and occasionally striker) with pace to burn, adept at setting up her strikers and sending alarm bells ringing through most defences.
Fuikefu has come under the wing of coach James Grant, who oversees all hockey at Mt Roskill Grammar and also coaches the Auckland men's side who won last month's nationals. Grant is impressed with his young charge, so much so that she took out several player of the day awards this season for MRGS.
"Lani can be as good as she wants to be. Physically she is stronger and quicker than most in her age group. Skill-wise, she has developed over the past few months and reads the game well," says Grant.
It is apt that Fuikefu names Jamie Dwyer as her favourite hockey player. The Australian midfielder just happens to be one of the top hockey exponents in the world, a five-time IHF player of the year, and he helped Grant and the Auckland team to the national title. This season was Fuikefu's second in the First XI. It is less than four years since she took the sport up, and her progress up the ranks has been swift, often playing with older girls which she says has only benefited her game.
"I liked this season. It was challenging but good. James Grant is a really good coach. He teaches us things that we didn't know and we've really improved from last year," says the diminutive Fuikefu.
Her skill, some cohesive team work and the astute coaching of Grant all combined to see MRGS' First XI draw with Macleans in the Open A grade final, as well as place third at the Eveline Hankers Memorial tournament in Pukekohe during last month's tournament week.
Fuikefu is confident that the girls, of whom only three are leaving school, can do well next year in the higher grade.
Dedication won't be an issue for her, though she lists her dribbling skills and fitness as two work-ons. Five or six days a week you will find her at 6.45am getting stuck into the fitness on the school's hockey turf, a priceless asset to fast-track young hockey careers. Then she is back for teamwork or stickwork later in the afternoon.
In season, her week looks something like this: Wednesday afternoon, First XI football for the school (her No 2 sport); Thursday afternoon, First XI hockey for the school; Friday evening, club hockey; Sunday afternoon, sometimes rep hockey.
MRGS' First XI girls' team has several Tongans in the squad, along with Fuikefu, where their natural talent is evident.
Fuikefu was the leading goalscorer for Auckland in the Under 15 nationals in Tauranga this month.
The New Zealand Herald