Reportedly, Indian men's hockey team is ready to get a new foreign coach within two weeks span as the national federation has shortlisted 4 candidates for the apex job.
In fact, Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narinder Batra has confirmed that they have received 6 applications from across the globe to occupy the foreign coach's post. This post is lying vacant following Australian coach Michael Nobbs' sudden expulsion in July this year.
Batra declared to the media that they have received six applications for the foreign coach's post. Then after going through all the applicants' CVs, they have finally shortlisted 4 individuals while entirely rubbishing reports that HI has recommended its High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans' name for the national team coach's position on permanent basis. He added that in a day or two they will send the names to Sports Authority of India for their approval. Finally, the SAI will take a decision on this issue after consulting with them. They expect the new coach to be named within 2 weeks time.
In addition, a newspaper report claimed that HI had proposed Oltmans to be appointed as the national team coach upto 2016 Rio Olympics apart from the SAI, who are responsible for hiring coaches. It is believed to have approved the proposal of the national body. The report explained that Oltmans' name emerged in the run, after he guided India to the silver medal finish in last month's Asia Cup at Ipoh in Malaysia. Moreover, the Dutchman was the team's interim coach during Asia Cup following Nobbs' dismissal. However, the HI secretary general termed the report as "false and entirely baseless"
Batra revealed that the report is false and completely baseless. They haven't discussed anything with SAI regarding this matter. In fact, the question of proposing Oltmans' name for national team coach doesn't arise at all as he is their High Performance Director. Specifically, he is responsible for the development of all the teams including junior, senior, as well as women's. He highlighted that Oltmans himself played a crucial role in shortlisting the candidates. In addition, his views were taken into consideration too while pruning down the list.
