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The Rediff Interview/ Vasudevan Bhaskaran

'The boys have worked hard, so definitely they should get the gold'

An Olympic gold medal is the holy grail of international sport. It takes years of toil and competition to win one. Some win just one; some more. Some win them as athletes, some as coaches, while some as both.

Twenty years ago Vasudevan Bhaskaran struck gold when he led the Indian hockey team to victory at the Moscow Games. It was the last of eight occasions that the Indian hockey team graced the victory podium at the quadrennial Games. Now, at 48, he attempts to add another to his collection, as coach, as he takes the team to Sydney in a month from now. It will be his third trip to the Games, having gone there as player in 1976 and 1980.

As a player, Bhaskaran has seen it all. Since making his international debut in 1971, the Madras-based senior personnel manager with Southern Railway played 287 international matches including those in the Olympics, the World Cups of 1973 (Amsterdam) and 1978 (Argentina), and the Asian Games of 1974 (Tehran) and 1978 (Bangkok). For all his efforts he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1979 and the Padma Shri in 1981.

Now as coach, he looks forward to winning the Olympic gold and the Dronacharya award, the country's highest award for coaches. Since 1995, when the Indian Hockey Federation appointed him as development coach, he has guided the fortunes of many Indian teams including those that went to the 1996 Champions Trophy, the 1997 Junior World Cup, which finished second, and the 1998 senior World Cup, which finished a poor ninth.

The World Cup disaster found him out of grace with the IHF. But with none to take over the job on the IHF's terms, he was recalled to ready the team for the Olympics. The successful Australian tour in May, which saw India win an international tournament after a long, long time, was his first stint since his recall, but the success was enough for the IHF to reimpose their faith in him for the Olympics.

Bhaskaran has had just about nine months with the team, which he feels is not ideal enough to prepare for an event as huge as the Olympics. Nevertheless, he says, "I'm satisfied with what I have achieved in these months."

Sports Editor Ivan Crasto spoke to the coach to find out more about the team's preparations and his hopes for the Games.

With just over a month to go for the Games, how's the team shaping up?

So far, good. The boys are working hard; there's a lot of inter-relation between the boys; the training schedules are going on well. This was the second long camp we had. We had one before the Australian tour. Both were for around 30 days. We also played around 24, 25 games from last November to May. That has helped me a lot to study the boys.

What has been your focus at these camps, particularly the second one?

We have worked a lot on fitness, because that is one area where we have lacked in the past. And I must say the boys have really improved in that area tremendously; they are absolutely fit. A lot of time was spent on endurance, set pieces and psychology sessions.

After the Australian tour you must have noted down the main weaknesses of the team and the positions that need improvement. What are those weaknesses?

The main weaknesses... I won't tell you. It is not good for the boys. And you, I will not tell because once it goes on the computer… your Internet, it's not good. Everybody comes to the Internet. The whole world will know.

How would you rate the team after the second leg of the Australian tour?

See, all that went well, but I have already taken away all those performances. That is over.

Why? Do you feel those teams you played in Australia were not at full strength then, or did not show their game? Particularly Australia?

No. That's wrong … that's was a full side. Australia. That's a problem with journalists. When we beat somebody they say they were not all full strength; when we lose they say we are no good.

I am asking because there were reports that Australia were trying out their players to make one strong team for the Olympics. It was said they had around 20 probables and they were trying them out.

Sorry, that question should not have come. You should have checked from the Internet to find out about their team. The rules don't permit 20 players.

No, no, reports said they fielded some players in the first leg and some in the second.

Okay, okay, when we win, don't accept it. I can't say anything. I won't answer this question. I can never answer negative questions. When we win they say this and that. That means our journalists don't want India to win. Straight away I will tell you. Because if India loses they can write more stories. They can write I was not in the room; he was not in the room. They can fill up gossip. Let them come and see what is happening. They should come like you.

I did not mean to berate your good showing there, but is it because of the continuity factor -- most of the boys have been in the team for quite some time now -- that you did well?

Yes, you can say that. A lot of observation has been done for the last five months. The players have played in Spain, in the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia. The team has played without some players, like (Baljit Singh) Dhillon; in some tournaments without (Baljit Singh) Saini, (Dhanraj) Pillay, (Mohammad) Riaz, Mukesh (Kumar). So we've given a chance to all the boys and finally we found that these 24 boys are perfect and called them for the final camp.

The understanding between the boys is very good; their performance is also good. All are ready to fight for a place in the final 16. So it's quite high competition. That's what this team is all about for the last two months. The filtering has been done. Basically, we are looking out for each individual's upgradation. The most important thing is how to upgrade the player though some of them have been to two Olympics. The game of hockey is demanding; what it was in 1996 is different; what it was in 1999 is not the same. Each team comes with a new strategy for each tournament. So I am preparing for different things.

Talking about continuity, it is good the IHF has stuck to the same coach.

I still feel the time given to me is very, very short. I came only somewhere in July last year; strictly speaking in November. I will be the only coach among the 12 countries who has had such a short stint with the players. But I am happy with the way the boys are performing.

Maybe, the IHF has realised the importance of sticking to the same coach and players for some time.

Our system is like that only; you can't change it. The system in Indian sport is like that. You can't make the Taj Mahal in one day. Like our IAS officers. He comes, takes six months to settle down, gets used to the work and then is sent somewhere else by the end of the year. The next officer comes and he starts something different. He has his own ideas. Those first six months are wasted; you have to then start from A. So, you have to work together for some time to get results.

Have you watched videos of the recent Champions Trophy or matches of the teams we will be playing against?

I am watching all the cassettes. That's only for knowledge. At the Champions Trophy, I would say some teams would not have played their best on set pieces; penalty-corner variations may not have been used because of the Olympics. So I will not rely totally on those tapes.

Has the IHF provided you with all those tapes? In the past our teams have not bothered to make a study of other teams before competition.

Not necessarily. I have my own tapes; my collection, my own library. That all depends on the coach. The boys have seen enough.

As a player you won an Olympic gold. Surely, you must look forward to win an Olympic gold as a coach as well.

This is the highest form of competition I will coach in. I have coached for the Champions Trophy, the World Cup. This is the highest form of motivation. The most important thing is that the players should perform. You have to work hard. It depends on each match.

You have a tough first match.

Not tough first match. Why? Every match is tough. All 12 teams are tough.

How much have you seen of Argentina who you play first?

Only Australia qualified as the hosts and Holland as the last Olympics winner. Otherwise, all the other 10 teams came through the qualifying process or through their performances in the Asian Games or other tournaments.

All this talk about seeing Argentina and how they play is only stories. If you have skillful players and a plan we can beat any side. If a good coach sees even half an hour of any team he can assess it. So all this talk about studying the teams and all that is rubbish.

I have a strong belief in myself. The boys have worked hard and I think we can do well.

Certainly these boys have more discipline and are fitter than some of our past teams.

No, no, it is not that the previous teams were not very good. At Atlanta we had a very good team; we played very well. We got some boys who are playing their first Olympics, some second and some third. So there is a balance. There is a lot of mixture of super seniors, seniors and juniors.

I think there are around seven players from the last Olympics team.

There is Dhanraj Pillay, Edward Aloysious, Ramandeep Singh, Mohammad Riaz, Baljit Saini, Baljit Dhillon and Dilip Tirkey. The other boys too have played lot of international matches. There is a good mixture of attacking players.They are good in both attack and defence.

What are the strengths of this team?

The strengths of this team, I would say, is good communication between the players. Number two is good counter attacks. Samir (Dad), Senthil, Saini, Mukesh, Dhillon, they are fast; they can beat some of the top guys in attack.

What about the defence?

It is shaping well. (Dirkey) Tirkey, (Lazarus) Barla, Dinesh (Nayak) are faring well. Tirkey is hitting penalty-corners well. Our success rate in the four-nation tournament in Australia was around 68 per cent which is very good.

And the goalkeepers?

All are playing good. Much will depend on them. Jude (Menezes) is in good form. He played well in the four-nation. Edu (Edward Aloysious) is also faring well. They have improved a lot. Let's see. Goalkeeping and penalty-corners are two important departments. I have always felt a goalkeeper and penalty-corner specialists are special. We cannot make one. They have to come into the team and perform. Like (Floris) Bovelander; like Prithipal Singh.

And the midfield?

This is one of the best in the world. Riaz, Ramandeep, Saini, Thiru (Thirumalvalavan) all have good understanding. They have played together for quite some time. They have experience also. They should do well.

Are any of the boys carrying injuries?

No. So far all is good. That's my only worry. I don't want to take any player with an injury and keep him sitting. Because for the Olympics only 16 players, not 18, are allowed. The last date for submitting names to the IOA is the end of August, but we will be taking 22 players to Brisbane, as we can submit our 16 names just before out first match.

So after the team is named, will the six who do not make the grade return?

That the IHF has to decide. But we are trying to organise something. We want them to say back to watch the matches. The IHF is trying to do something.

The IHF has roped in Ranjit Singh from Spain. I believe he is looking after the goalkeeping and penalty-corner conversions.

He has basically come to assist me.

How experienced is he?

He was coaching some club side in Spain.

Could the IHF not find someone from India for the job he is doing?

Giving personal attention to all the boys is too much for Harinder (the assistant coach) and me. So he takes care of other things, like goalkeeping practice. Not that I don't, but when I am with the forwards and other players he puts them through. People have taken the subject wrong. We are using the help of some of our past players and coaches also. But you see he is only helping me. I need one hour with the boys. Now we can train for three hours or so. So while I'm attending to other departments, he can take care of the goalkeeping and penalty-corners. This kind of splitting is good. I make the schedules and the rest follow.

We train twice a day, morning and evening. The facilities we have been given are very good. There is nothing to complain about -- good food, good ground, plenty of balls, everything. Now we have cut down our training. Once we go to Muruwillumbh in Brisbane -- it is a small town -- after this final camp, we will raise the training level till we move into the Olympic village on or around September 8.

We will be playing some club sides there; then maybe some of the other teams who are not in our group, like Canada. So we hope to peak in time.

Does the team have any sponsors?

Yes, we now have some new sticks which are approved by the FIH (Federatione International Hockey). They are called Carbonex, brought from Europe. They have little more power. They are like the tennis racquets, not the wooden ones. The boys have been using it from last month; they are more comfortable with them.

As for kitting, the IHF has arranged for shoes, jerseys and shorts by Adidas.

Last question: Can you assess each team in your group?

We will take each match by itself. We have played all of them at some time or the other in various tournaments.

But a small assessment, please.

Okay. Argentina -- Our most important match; our first match. They have surprised us in the past. We have to make minimum mistakes. If we win it, the boys' morale will be up.

Australia -- They are the strongest. Their home ground. We have played them many times and know their game. We have some surprises for them.

South Korea -- We beat them in the Asiad, but lost to them in the World Cup and Asia Cup. Their passing is fast. We know how to counter that.

Spain is next. We just started our preparation when we played them in January, and lost 3-5. They play a different game. They make you restless by not allowing you to score. Our boys must be patient, then the goals will come.

Our last match in the league is against Poland. They are unpredictable. I won't take them lightly. They have qualified the hard way. We have to score early goals. They will defend a lot.

Thank you for your time. All the very best.

Yes, thanks. I need it. The boys are very positive. When the boys are happy, both in performance and training, all should go well. It is my strong belief that the boys have worked hard, so definitely they should get the gold. I only pray there's no injury before the first game, at least to my first 16.

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